Rufus v Elliott [2015] EWHC 807 (QB) (24 March 2015)

Rufus v Elliott [2015] EWHC 807 (QB) (24 March 2015)

The Press Release attributed to Mr Rufus the act of making public a private text message in which Mr Elliott used a racially offensive term, but did not impute dishonour, betrayal, or blameworthy conduct; society generally would not disapprove of such disclosure, especially given the public interest in exposing conduct inconsistent with a public anti-racism role.

Citation
[2015] EWHC 807 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Richard Rufus; Defendant: Paul Elliott
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
24 March 2015
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issue on Whether the Words Complained of Are Defamatory
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Defamatory Meaning, Innuendo, Standards of Right Thinking People, Public Interest Disclosure
Defamation Media Law Defamatory Meaning Innuendo Standards of Right Thinking People Public Interest Disclosure

Case Brief

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Parties

Richard Rufus

Claimant

Paul Elliott

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issue on Whether the Words Complained of Are Defamatory

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Press Release was defamatory of Mr Rufus
  2. 2 Whether the attributed conduct would lower Mr Rufus in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally

Ratio Decidendi

The Press Release attributed to Mr Rufus the act of making public a private text message in which Mr Elliott used a racially offensive term, but did not impute dishonour, betrayal, or blameworthy conduct; society generally would not disapprove of such disclosure, especially given the public interest in exposing conduct inconsistent with a public anti-racism role.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

  • The words complained of are not defamatory of Mr Rufus.