Gary Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd [2013] EWHC 2182 (QB) (25 July 2013)

Gary Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd [2013] EWHC 2182 (QB) (25 July 2013)

The website publication, as read after 5 September 2007 and before the October 2009 update, conveyed to the reasonable reader that there continued to be strong grounds to believe that the claimant had abused his position as a police officer by corruptly accepting bribes from Russian criminals, thereby committing a serious criminal offence and breach of duty.

Citation
[2013] EWHC 2182
Parties
Claimant: Gary Flood; Defendant: Times Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
25 July 2013
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Preliminary Issue on Meaning of Publication and Permission to Amend Particulars of Claim
Outcome
Permission to amend Particulars of Claim granted; meaning of the article determined in favour of the claimant's pleaded meaning for the relevant period.
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning of Defamatory Publication, Reynolds Defence, Responsible Journalism, Online Publication Liability
Defamation Media Law Libel Meaning of Defamatory Publication Reynolds Defence Responsible Journalism Online Publication Liability

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Parties

Gary Flood

Claimant

Times Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Preliminary Issue on Meaning of Publication and Permission to Amend Particulars of Claim

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the article as published on the website after 5 September 2007?
  2. 2 Should the claimant have permission to amend his Particulars of Claim?

Ratio Decidendi

The website publication, as read after 5 September 2007 and before the October 2009 update, conveyed to the reasonable reader that there continued to be strong grounds to believe that the claimant had abused his position as a police officer by corruptly accepting bribes from Russian criminals, thereby committing a serious criminal offence and breach of duty.

Court Disposition

Permission to amend Particulars of Claim granted; meaning of the article determined in favour of the claimant's pleaded meaning for the relevant period.

Orders

  • Permission granted to amend Particulars of Claim.
  • The meaning of the website publication for readers after 5 September 2007 and before the October 2009 update is as pleaded by the claimant.