Cooke & Anor v MGN Ltd & Anor [2014] EWHC 2831 (QB) (13 August 2014)

The article, in its natural and ordinary meaning, suggests Midland Heart and Ruth Cooke profit from renting properties to Benefits Street residents, but the claimants failed to prove that publication caused or was likely to cause serious harm to their reputations as required by section 1 of the Defamation Act 2013.

Citation: [2014] EWHC 2831
Parties: Claimant: Ruth Cooke; Claimant: Midland Heart Limited; Defendant: MGN Limited; Defendant: Trinity Mirror Midlands Limited
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Judgment Date: 13 August 2014
Procedural Posture: Defamation / Trial of Preliminary Issues
Outcome: Claim dismissed
Legal Topics: Serious Harm Threshold, Natural and Ordinary Meaning, Apology and Mitigation, Defamation Act 2013 Interpretation

Defamation Media Law Serious Harm Threshold Natural and Ordinary Meaning Apology and Mitigation Defamation Act 2013 Interpretation

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Parties

Ruth Cooke

Claimant

Midland Heart Limited

Claimant

MGN Limited

Defendant

Trinity Mirror Midlands Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Defamation / Trial of Preliminary Issues

Legal Issues

1 Whether the article bears a defamatory meaning regarding the claimants
2 Whether publication caused or is likely to cause serious harm to claimants' reputations under section 1 of the Defamation Act 2013

Ratio Decidendi

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed