Feyziyev v The Journalism Development Network Association & Anor [2019] EWHC 957 (QB) (16 April 2019)

Feyziyev v The Journalism Development Network Association & Anor [2019] EWHC 957 (QB) (16 April 2019)

The First Article bears the natural and ordinary meaning that there are reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant, through AvroMed, engaged or assisted in illegal money laundering and bribery of influential European politicians, journalists, and businessmen on a vast scale. The Second Article bears the meaning that there are strong grounds to suspect the claimant, through AvroMed, engaged or assisted in such conduct. Neither article conveys as a fact that the claimant is guilty of corrupt participation. The strike-out application is granted as unopposed, and the defendants are ordered to serve an Amended Defence and provide further information as to the public interest defence, without...

Citation
[2019] EWHC 957
Parties
Claimant: Javanshir Feyziyev; Defendant: The Journalism Development Network Association; Defendant: Paul Radu
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
16 April 2019
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issue of Meaning and Hearing of Claimant's Applications to Strike Out Parts of Defence and for Further Information
Outcome
Strike-out application granted; directions given for Amended Defence and further information.
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning of Defamatory Statements, Strike Out Application, Public Interest Defence, Responsibility for Publication
Defamation Media Law Libel Meaning of Defamatory Statements Strike Out Application Public Interest Defence Responsibility for Publication

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Parties

Javanshir Feyziyev

Claimant

The Journalism Development Network Association

Defendant

Paul Radu

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issue of Meaning and Hearing of Claimant's Applications to Strike Out Parts of Defence and for Further Information

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the words complained of in the two articles?
  2. 2 Are the articles defamatory of the claimant?
  3. 3 Should parts of the Defence be struck out for disclosing no reasonable grounds for defending the claim on the grounds of truth?

Ratio Decidendi

The First Article bears the natural and ordinary meaning that there are reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant, through AvroMed, engaged or assisted in illegal money laundering and bribery of influential European politicians, journalists, and businessmen on a vast scale. The Second Article bears the meaning that there are strong grounds to suspect the claimant, through AvroMed, engaged or assisted in such conduct. Neither article conveys as a fact that the claimant is guilty of corrupt participation. The strike-out application is granted as unopposed, and the defendants are ordered to serve an Amended Defence and provide further information as to the public interest defence, without...

Court Disposition

Strike-out application granted; directions given for Amended Defence and further information.

Orders

  • Defendants to serve an Amended Defence by specified deadline.
  • Defendants to answer outstanding requests for further information, to the extent relevant.