Mayer v Hoar [2012] EWHC 1805 (QB) (05 July 2012)

The defendant's letter to the Bar Standards Board was written on an occasion of absolute privilege, and the claim for libel is therefore bound to fail.

Citation: [2012] EWHC 1805 (QB)
Parties: Claimant: David Mayer; Defendant: Francis Hoar
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Judgment Date: 05 July 2012
Procedural Posture: Libel Claim / Application to Strike Out Claim
Outcome: Claim dismissed
Legal Topics: Absolute Privilege, Communications to Regulatory Bodies, Waiver of Privilege, Libel

Defamation Professional Regulation Absolute Privilege Communications to Regulatory Bodies Waiver of Privilege Libel

Case Brief

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Parties

David Mayer

Claimant

Francis Hoar

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Claim / Application to Strike Out Claim

Legal Issues

1 Whether the defendant's letter to the Bar Standards Board was protected by absolute privilege
2 Whether the defendant waived absolute privilege by reserving the right to sue for libel

Ratio Decidendi

The defendant's letter to the Bar Standards Board was written on an occasion of absolute privilege, and the claim for libel is therefore bound to fail.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

Claim struck out as disclosing no reasonable grounds for bringing the claim
No need to proceed to claimant's application