Poulter v Times Newspapers Ltd [2018] EWHC 3900 (QB) (14 December 2018)

Poulter v Times Newspapers Ltd [2018] EWHC 3900 (QB) (14 December 2018)

The print articles must be read together to ascertain a single meaning, which is that the claimant was guilty of sexual assault by putting his hand up the skirts of three female MPs. The online articles are separate publications; the Bridgen online article bears the same meaning as the print articles, while the Wheeler online article means there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant was guilty of sexual assault.

Citation
[2018] EWHC 3900
Parties
Claimant: Daniel Poulter MP; Defendant: Times Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
14 December 2018
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issue of Meaning
Outcome
Preliminary issue of meaning determined in favour of the claimant's interpretation for the print and Bridgen online articles; Wheeler online article found to bear a Chase level 2 meaning.
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning of Publication, Repetition Rule, Single Publication Rule, Defamation Act 2013
Defamation Media Law Libel Meaning of Publication Repetition Rule Single Publication Rule Defamation Act 2013

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 13 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Daniel Poulter MP

Claimant

Times Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issue of Meaning

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the print articles should be read together for the purpose of ascertaining meaning
  2. 2 Whether the online articles constitute separate publications for meaning
  3. 3 What is the single meaning conveyed by the articles about the claimant

Ratio Decidendi

The print articles must be read together to ascertain a single meaning, which is that the claimant was guilty of sexual assault by putting his hand up the skirts of three female MPs. The online articles are separate publications; the Bridgen online article bears the same meaning as the print articles, while the Wheeler online article means there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant was guilty of sexual assault.

Court Disposition

Preliminary issue of meaning determined in favour of the claimant's interpretation for the print and Bridgen online articles; Wheeler online article found to bear a Chase level 2 meaning.

Orders

  • The meaning of the print publication of the two articles is: 'the claimant was guilty of sexual assault by putting his hand up the skirts of three female Members of Parliament'.
  • The meaning of the online Bridgen Article is the same as the print articles.