Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd

Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd

The words complained of in the first paragraph relating to copy approval are not capable of being a personal libel or a business/professional libel, nor do they surmount the threshold of seriousness required for defamation. The application for summary judgment succeeds.

Parties
Claimant: Dr. Sarah Thornton; Defendant: Telegraph Media Group Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
16 June 2010
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Summary Judgment Application
Outcome
Summary judgment granted in favour of the defendant
Legal Topics
Threshold of Seriousness, Business/professional Libel, Personal Libel, Defamatory Meaning, Freedom of Expression
Defamation Threshold of Seriousness Business/professional Libel Personal Libel Defamatory Meaning Freedom of Expression

Case Brief

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Parties

Dr. Sarah Thornton

Claimant

Telegraph Media Group Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Summary Judgment Application

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the words complained of are capable of bearing a defamatory meaning
  2. 2 Whether the words amount to a business or professional libel
  3. 3 Threshold of seriousness in defamation

Ratio Decidendi

The words complained of in the first paragraph relating to copy approval are not capable of being a personal libel or a business/professional libel, nor do they surmount the threshold of seriousness required for defamation. The application for summary judgment succeeds.

Court Disposition

Summary judgment granted in favour of the defendant

Orders

  • The claim in relation to the words complained of in the first paragraph is struck out