Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor [2020] EWHC 2911 (QB) (02 November 2020)
The Defendants established on the balance of probabilities that the imputation that the Claimant was violent towards Ms Heard was substantially true. The statutory defence of truth under s.2 Defamation Act 2013 succeeded. The Claimant's libel claim failed.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] EWHC 2911 (QB)
- 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, Reputational Harm
Source-derived case record
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 Whether the articles published by the Defendants were defamatory of the Claimant
- 2 Whether the Defendants have established the statutory defence of truth under s.2 Defamation Act 2013
- 3 Whether the allegations of serious domestic violence by the Claimant against Ms Heard are substantially true
Ratio Decidendi
The Defendants established on the balance of probabilities that the imputation that the Claimant was violent towards Ms Heard was substantially true. The statutory defence of truth under s.2 Defamation Act 2013 succeeded. The Claimant's libel claim failed.
Court Disposition
Claim dismissed
Orders
- The claim is dismissed.
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