Harrods Ltd v Dow Jones & Company Inc

Harrods Ltd v Dow Jones & Company Inc

Dow Jones & Company Inc. had not established a place of business in Great Britain, so service at 10 Fleet Place was invalid; however, permission to serve out of jurisdiction was granted as the claim related to English publications affecting an English company, and the English court was the appropriate forum.

Parties
Claimant: Harrods Limited; Defendant: Dow Jones & Company Inc
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
22 May 2003
Procedural Posture
Civil / Interlocutory Applications
Outcome
Permission to serve out of jurisdiction granted; stay on forum non conveniens grounds refused.
Legal Topics
Service of Process, Forum Non Conveniens, Jurisdiction, Overseas Companies, Registration Requirements, Publication, Damages
Defamation Civil Procedure Company Law Service of Process Forum Non Conveniens Jurisdiction Overseas Companies Registration Requirements +2 more

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Parties

Harrods Limited

Claimant

Dow Jones & Company Inc

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil / Interlocutory Applications

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether service of proceedings on Dow Jones & Company Inc. was valid under English law
  2. 2 Whether Dow Jones & Company Inc. has established a place of business in Great Britain
  3. 3 Whether the proceedings should be stayed on grounds of forum non conveniens

Ratio Decidendi

Dow Jones & Company Inc. had not established a place of business in Great Britain, so service at 10 Fleet Place was invalid; however, permission to serve out of jurisdiction was granted as the claim related to English publications affecting an English company, and the English court was the appropriate forum.

Court Disposition

Permission to serve out of jurisdiction granted; stay on forum non conveniens grounds refused.

Orders

  • Permission to serve proceedings out of jurisdiction granted.
  • Application for stay on forum non conveniens grounds refused.