Allen v Times Newspapers Ltd [2019] EWHC 1235 (QB) (15 May 2019)

Allen v Times Newspapers Ltd [2019] EWHC 1235 (QB) (15 May 2019)

The article's single natural and ordinary meaning is that the claimant misconducted himself by remaining on the Building Regulations Advisory Committee when it discussed the Grenfell Tower fire, despite being a senior executive of the company that made the insulation under suspicion, thereby placing himself in a situation of conflict of interest. This meaning is defamatory at common law.

Citation
[2019] EWHC 1235
Parties
Claimant: Mark Anthony Allen; Defendant: Times Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
15 May 2019
Procedural Posture
Libel/defamation / Trial of Preliminary Issues (meaning and Defamatory Tendency)
Outcome
The words complained of bear a defamatory meaning of the claimant at common law.
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning of Defamatory Statements, Conflict of Interest, Role of Expert Committees
Media Law Defamation Libel Meaning of Defamatory Statements Conflict of Interest Role of Expert Committees

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Parties

Mark Anthony Allen

Claimant

Times Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel/defamation / Trial of Preliminary Issues (meaning and Defamatory Tendency)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the single natural and ordinary meaning of the words complained of?
  2. 2 Are the words, in that meaning, defamatory of the claimant at common law?

Ratio Decidendi

The article's single natural and ordinary meaning is that the claimant misconducted himself by remaining on the Building Regulations Advisory Committee when it discussed the Grenfell Tower fire, despite being a senior executive of the company that made the insulation under suspicion, thereby placing himself in a situation of conflict of interest. This meaning is defamatory at common law.

Court Disposition

The words complained of bear a defamatory meaning of the claimant at common law.