Miller & Anor v Turner (Rev3) [2021] EWHC 2135 (QB) (28 July 2021)

Miller & Anor v Turner (Rev3) [2021] EWHC 2135 (QB) (28 July 2021)

The ordinary and natural meaning of the publications complained of must be determined impressionistically, taking the tweets as a whole and in context, without artificial redaction. Allegations of death threats, police investigation, and harassment are factual; allegations of neo-Nazism and antisemitism are opinion, with basis indicated by referenced material. References to fascism are relevant context and cannot be excluded from meaning determination.

Citation
[2021] EWHC 2135
Parties
Claimant: Daniel Miller; Claimant: Nina Power; Defendant: Luke Turner
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
28 July 2021
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Preliminary Issues Trial
Outcome
Preliminary issues determined; meanings and fact/opinion status of each publication established.
Legal Topics
Libel, Social Media Publications, Fact Vs Opinion, Defamatory Meaning, Contextual Interpretation

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Daniel Miller

Claimant

Nina Power

Claimant

Luke Turner

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Preliminary Issues Trial

  1. 1 Determination of natural and ordinary meaning of publications
  2. 2 Classification of statements as fact or opinion
  3. 3 Indication of basis for opinion statements

Ratio Decidendi

The ordinary and natural meaning of the publications complained of must be determined impressionistically, taking the tweets as a whole and in context, without artificial redaction. Allegations of death threats, police investigation, and harassment are factual; allegations of neo-Nazism and antisemitism are opinion, with basis indicated by referenced material. References to fascism are relevant context and cannot be excluded from meaning determination.

Court Disposition

Preliminary issues determined; meanings and fact/opinion status of each publication established.

Orders

  • Meanings of each publication set out item-by-item; allegations classified as fact or opinion; basis for opinion indicated where relevant.