Armstrong v Times Newspapers Ltd [2006] EWHC 1614 (QB) (30 June 2006)

Armstrong v Times Newspapers Ltd [2006] EWHC 1614 (QB) (30 June 2006)

The article, read as a whole by the ordinary reasonable reader, conveyed the meaning that Lance Armstrong had taken drugs to enhance his cycling performance, and that his denials were lies, thus imputing guilt, fraud, and cheating as contended by the claimant.

Citation
[2006] EWHC 1614
Parties
Claimant: Lance Armstrong; Defendant: Times Newspapers Limited; Defendant: David Walsh; Defendant: Alan English
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
30 June 2006
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Preliminary Issue on Meaning, Tried by Judge Alone
Outcome
Meaning contended for by the claimant upheld; defendants' meaning rejected.
Legal Topics
Libel, Defamatory Meaning, Media Publications, Reputation, Interpretation of Publications
Defamation Media Law Libel Defamatory Meaning Media Publications Reputation Interpretation of Publications

Case Brief

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Parties

Lance Armstrong

Claimant

Times Newspapers Limited

Defendant

David Walsh

Defendant

Alan English

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Preliminary Issue on Meaning, Tried by Judge Alone

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What defamatory meaning was borne by the article published by The Sunday Times on 13 June 2004 about Lance Armstrong?

Ratio Decidendi

The article, read as a whole by the ordinary reasonable reader, conveyed the meaning that Lance Armstrong had taken drugs to enhance his cycling performance, and that his denials were lies, thus imputing guilt, fraud, and cheating as contended by the claimant.

Court Disposition

Meaning contended for by the claimant upheld; defendants' meaning rejected.

Orders

  • The article published by The Sunday Times on 13 June 2004 bore the meaning that Lance Armstrong had taken drugs to enhance his performance in cycling competitions, and by denying it, was a fraud, a cheat, and a liar.