Haji-Ioannou v Telegraph Media Group Ltd & Anor

Haji-Ioannou v Telegraph Media Group Ltd & Anor

The article, read as a whole by the ordinary reasonable reader, was an expression of the columnist’s opinion, satirising the claimant’s rhetoric, and did not convey as fact that the claimant made false and malicious allegations. The meaning was not defamatory at common law as it would not substantially affect the...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Claimant: Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou; Defendant: Telegraph Media Group Limited; Defendant: Ben Marlow
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 November 2020
Procedural Posture
Libel and Data Protection / Preliminary Issues Trial on Meaning, Fact/opinion, and Defamatory Tendency
Outcome
Claim dismissed at preliminary issue stage; words not defamatory at common law.
Legal Topics
Meaning of Words, Fact or Opinion, Defamatory Tendency, Satire in Defamation
Defamation Media Law Meaning of Words Fact or Opinion Defamatory Tendency Satire in Defamation

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Parties

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou

Claimant

Telegraph Media Group Limited

Defendant

Ben Marlow

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel and Data Protection / Preliminary Issues Trial on Meaning, Fact/opinion, and Defamatory Tendency

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the words complained of?
  2. 2 Are the words statements of fact or opinion?
  3. 3 Are the words defamatory at common law?

Ratio Decidendi

The article, read as a whole by the ordinary reasonable reader, was an expression of the columnist’s opinion, satirising the claimant’s rhetoric, and did not convey as fact that the claimant made false and malicious allegations. The meaning was not defamatory at common law as it would not substantially affect the claimant’s reputation.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed at preliminary issue stage; words not defamatory at common law.