Oyston & Anor v Ragozzino [2015] EWHC 3232 (QB) (09 November 2015)

Oyston & Anor v Ragozzino [2015] EWHC 3232 (QB) (09 November 2015)

The court awarded substantial damages to each claimant based on the seriousness of the defamatory statements, the extent of publication, the distress caused, the need for vindication, and aggravating conduct by the defendant, with reductions for prior bad reputation where applicable and modest damages for the corporate claimant due to lack of evidence of financial loss.

Citation
[2015] EWHC 3232 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Karl Samuel Oyston; Claimant: John Owen Oyston; Claimant: Blackpool Football Club Limited; Defendant: David Richard Ragozzino
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
09 November 2015
Procedural Posture
Defamation and Malicious Falsehood / Assessment of Damages Following Default and Consent Judgment
Outcome
Damages awarded to all claimants; anonymisation order made for certain individuals in the pleadings.
Legal Topics
Defamation, Malicious Falsehood, Damages, Aggravated Damages, Corporate Reputation
Tort Media Law Defamation Malicious Falsehood Damages Aggravated Damages Corporate Reputation

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Parties

Karl Samuel Oyston

Claimant

John Owen Oyston

Claimant

Blackpool Football Club Limited

Claimant

David Richard Ragozzino

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Defamation and Malicious Falsehood / Assessment of Damages Following Default and Consent Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Assessment of damages for defamatory statements against individuals and a company
  2. 2 Entitlement to aggravated damages for malice and conduct of proceedings
  3. 3 Impact of claimant's prior criminal convictions on damages

Ratio Decidendi

The court awarded substantial damages to each claimant based on the seriousness of the defamatory statements, the extent of publication, the distress caused, the need for vindication, and aggravating conduct by the defendant, with reductions for prior bad reputation where applicable and modest damages for the corporate claimant due to lack of evidence of financial loss.

Court Disposition

Damages awarded to all claimants; anonymisation order made for certain individuals in the pleadings.

Orders

  • Damages of £20,000 to Karl Oyston
  • Damages of £20,000 to Owen Oyston