Oyston & Anor v Ragozzino

Oyston & Anor v Ragozzino

The court awarded substantial damages to the individual claimants and modest damages to the corporate claimant, considering the seriousness of the defamatory statements, their publication and impact, the claimants' reputations, the defendant's malice and conduct, and the lack of evidence of significant financial loss to the company.

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 After Default and Consent Judgment
Outcome
Damages assessed for each claimant; further orders on anonymisation and file access granted.
Legal Topics
Defamation, Malicious Falsehood, Damages Assessment, Aggravated Damages, Corporate Reputation
Defamation Tort Law Malicious Falsehood Damages Assessment 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 After Default and Consent Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the appropriate quantum of damages for defamatory statements and malicious falsehood published online against the claimants?
  2. 2 Are aggravated damages justified based on the defendant's conduct?
  3. 3 Should the damages be reduced due to the claimants' general reputation or lack of evidence of financial loss?

Ratio Decidendi

The court awarded substantial damages to the individual claimants and modest damages to the corporate claimant, considering the seriousness of the defamatory statements, their publication and impact, the claimants' reputations, the defendant's malice and conduct, and the lack of evidence of significant financial loss to the company.

Court Disposition

Damages assessed for each claimant; further orders on anonymisation and file access granted.

Orders

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