Various Claimants v News Group Newspapers Ltd

Various Claimants v News Group Newspapers Ltd

Nigel qualifies as a source under section 10, and the evidence of a confidentiality agreement is sufficient to engage source protection. The interests of justice do not require blanket disclosure of the withheld documents, but the claimants are entitled to redacted copies with only source-identifying material withheld.

Parties
Claimant: Various Claimants; Defendant: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
04 June 2020
Procedural Posture
Application for Inspection of Disclosed Documents / Ruling on Application
Outcome
Application partially allowed
Legal Topics
Protection of Journalistic Sources, Disclosure of Documents, Confidentiality, Contempt of Court Act 1981 Section 10
Media Law Civil Procedure Protection of Journalistic Sources Disclosure of Documents Confidentiality Contempt of Court Act 1981 Section 10

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Parties

Various Claimants

Claimant

News Group Newspapers Ltd

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Application for Inspection of Disclosed Documents / Ruling on Application

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Nigel qualifies as a confidential source under section 10 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981
  2. 2 Whether the interests of justice require disclosure of withheld documents relating to Nigel

Ratio Decidendi

Nigel qualifies as a source under section 10, and the evidence of a confidentiality agreement is sufficient to engage source protection. The interests of justice do not require blanket disclosure of the withheld documents, but the claimants are entitled to redacted copies with only source-identifying material withheld.

Court Disposition

Application partially allowed

Orders

  • Defendant to serve redacted copies of withheld documents, redacting only material that identifies Nigel as the source of particular information.
  • Dates and amounts of payments in SAP records to be disclosed; only information linking Nigel to specific stories or tips to be redacted.