Ranger v Pycraft

Ranger v Pycraft

The defendant breached the undertakings by publishing further defamatory statements of the same or similar nature to those previously complained of, both by sending a briefing to a journalist and by facilitating its wider dissemination, and by failing to delete specified tweets. The undertakings are enforceable as a contract, and the breaches are established on the balance of probabilities. However, the risk of future breach is not sufficient to justify a permanent injunction at this stage.

Parties
Claimant: Lance Dorian Ranger; Defendant: Charles Pycraft
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
08 March 2021
Procedural Posture
Civil (contract/defamation Undertaking Enforcement) / Judgment After Trial
Outcome
Claim allowed in part; breach of contract established; costs awarded; injunction refused.
Legal Topics
Enforcement of Undertakings, Interpretation of Settlement Agreements, Breach of Contract, Defamation Settlements, Injunctive Relief
Contract Law Defamation Law Enforcement of Undertakings Interpretation of Settlement Agreements Breach of Contract Defamation Settlements Injunctive Relief

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Parties

Lance Dorian Ranger

Claimant

Charles Pycraft

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil (contract/defamation Undertaking Enforcement) / Judgment After Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the defendant breached undertakings not to publish further defamatory statements of the same or similar nature to those previously complained of
  2. 2 Whether the defendant failed to delete specified defamatory material as required by the undertakings
  3. 3 Whether the undertakings are enforceable as a contract

Ratio Decidendi

The defendant breached the undertakings by publishing further defamatory statements of the same or similar nature to those previously complained of, both by sending a briefing to a journalist and by facilitating its wider dissemination, and by failing to delete specified tweets. The undertakings are enforceable as a contract, and the breaches are established on the balance of probabilities. However, the risk of future breach is not sufficient to justify a permanent injunction at this stage.

Court Disposition

Claim allowed in part; breach of contract established; costs awarded; injunction refused.

Orders

  • Defendant to pay claimant's legal costs as provided in the undertakings.
  • Application for a permanent injunction refused.