Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor [2020] EWHC 2911 (QB) (02 November 2020)

Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor [2020] EWHC 2911 (QB) (02 November 2020)

The court found that the Defendants had proved that the imputation that the Claimant was violent towards Ms Heard was substantially true. The Defendants established the statutory defence of truth under s.2 Defamation Act 2013. The Claimant's claim for libel failed because the Defendants succeeded in proving the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2020] EWHC 2911
Parties
Claimant: John Christopher Depp II; Defendant: News Group Newspapers Ltd.; Defendant: Dan Wootton
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 November 2020
Procedural Posture
Libel Claim / High Court Trial, Judgment
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Libel, Defence of Truth, Burden of Proof, Standard of Proof, Domestic Violence Allegations, Reputation, Damages
Defamation Media Law Libel Defence of Truth Burden of Proof Standard of Proof Domestic Violence Allegations Reputation +1 more

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

John Christopher Depp II

Claimant

News Group Newspapers Ltd.

Defendant

Dan Wootton

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Claim / High Court Trial, Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the articles published by the Defendants were defamatory of the Claimant
  2. 2 Whether the Defendants have established the statutory defence of truth under s.2 Defamation Act 2013
  3. 3 Whether the allegations of serious domestic violence by the Claimant against Ms Heard are substantially true

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the Defendants had proved that the imputation that the Claimant was violent towards Ms Heard was substantially true. The Defendants established the statutory defence of truth under s.2 Defamation Act 2013. The Claimant's claim for libel failed because the Defendants succeeded in proving the substantial truth of the allegations published.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

  • Claimant's claim for libel is dismissed
  • No damages awarded to the Claimant