Bezant v Rausing & Ors [2007] EWHC 1118 (QB) (14 May 2007)

Bezant v Rausing & Ors [2007] EWHC 1118 (QB) (14 May 2007)

The claims in contract, deceit, libel, and misfeasance are unsustainable as a matter of law and fact. The alleged agreement to negotiate is unenforceable, no evidence supports deceit, libel claims fail for lack of publication and privilege, and claims relating to the Portuguese company are outside English jurisdiction.

Citation
[2007] EWHC 1118 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Richard John Bezant; Defendant: Hans Anders Rausing; Defendants: Defendants 2-8, 10, 11, 14, 16; Defendants: Defendants 9, 12, 13, 15; Defendant: Defendant 17 (Mr Cork); Defendant: Defendant 1 (Hans Anders Rausing)
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
14 May 2007
Procedural Posture
Civil / Strike Out and Summary Judgment Applications
Outcome
Claims struck out and summary judgment entered for defendants
Legal Topics
Strike Out, Summary Judgment, Breach of Contract, Deceit, Libel, Misfeasance, Duty of Care, Qualified Privilege, Jurisdiction, Abuse of Process
Contract Law Tort Law Employment Law Defamation Law Company Law Insolvency Law Strike Out Summary Judgment +8 more

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 7 Authorities cited 27 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 10
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Richard John Bezant

Claimant

Hans Anders Rausing

Defendant

Defendants 2-8, 10, 11, 14, 16

Defendants

Defendants 9, 12, 13, 15

Defendants

Defendant 17 (Mr Cork)

Defendant

Defendant 1 (Hans Anders Rausing)

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil / Strike Out and Summary Judgment Applications

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the statements of case disclose reasonable grounds for bringing the claims
  2. 2 Whether the claimant has a real prospect of succeeding on the claims
  3. 3 Whether the claims should be struck out or summary judgment entered

Ratio Decidendi

The claims in contract, deceit, libel, and misfeasance are unsustainable as a matter of law and fact. The alleged agreement to negotiate is unenforceable, no evidence supports deceit, libel claims fail for lack of publication and privilege, and claims relating to the Portuguese company are outside English jurisdiction.

Court Disposition

Claims struck out and summary judgment entered for defendants

Orders

  • Declaration that English courts lack jurisdiction over claims relating to removal as director of Portuguese company
  • Claims against defendants 9-12 relating to Portuguese company dismissed