Northcott v Hundeyin [2024] EWHC 2704 (KB) (25 October 2024)

Northcott v Hundeyin [2024] EWHC 2704 (KB) (25 October 2024)

The defendant published serious and wholly untrue defamatory allegations about the claimant, causing grave harm to his reputation and career. The defendant aggravated the harm by goading the claimant, persisting in the allegations, and engaging in a campaign of online harassment. The court awarded £95,000 in damages, including aggravated damages, and made orders under ss 12 and 13 of the Defamation Act 2013 for publication of a summary judgment and removal of the defamatory content.

Citation
[2024] EWHC 2704 (KB)
Parties
Claimant: Charles Northcott; Defendant: David Hundeyin
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
25 October 2024
Procedural Posture
Libel / Remedies Trial Following Default Judgment
Outcome
Claim allowed; damages awarded; orders granted under Defamation Act 2013 ss 12 and 13.
Legal Topics
Libel, Aggravated Damages, Default Judgment, Remedies Under Defamation Act 2013, Publication of Judgment Summary, Online Defamation
Defamation Media Law Libel Aggravated Damages Default Judgment Remedies Under Defamation Act 2013 Publication of Judgment Summary Online Defamation

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 23 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 1
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Charles Northcott

Claimant

David Hundeyin

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel / Remedies Trial Following Default Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Assessment of damages for libel following default judgment
  2. 2 Whether aggravated damages are appropriate
  3. 3 Whether to order publication of summary judgment under s 12 Defamation Act 2013

Ratio Decidendi

The defendant published serious and wholly untrue defamatory allegations about the claimant, causing grave harm to his reputation and career. The defendant aggravated the harm by goading the claimant, persisting in the allegations, and engaging in a campaign of online harassment. The court awarded £95,000 in damages, including aggravated damages, and made orders under ss 12 and 13 of the Defamation Act 2013 for publication of a summary judgment and removal of the defamatory content.

Court Disposition

Claim allowed; damages awarded; orders granted under Defamation Act 2013 ss 12 and 13.

Orders

  • Defendant to pay claimant £95,000 in damages (including aggravated damages)
  • Defendant to publish a summary of this judgment under s 12 Defamation Act 2013