Morgan v Times Newspapers Ltd [2019] EWHC 1525 (QB) (02 July 2019)

Morgan v Times Newspapers Ltd [2019] EWHC 1525 (QB) (02 July 2019)

The article, in both print and web versions, imputes reasonable cause to suspect professional negligence in the Claimant's prosecutorial decisions, which is defamatory of her professional reputation at common law and has a tendency to cause serious harm.

Citation
[2019] EWHC 1525
Parties
Claimant: Alison Morgan; Defendant: Times Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 July 2019
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issues
Outcome
Preliminary issues determined in favour of the Claimant
Legal Topics
Libel, Professional Negligence, Defamatory Meaning, Serious Harm, Threshold of Seriousness

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Alison Morgan

Claimant

Times Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issues

  1. 1 True meaning of the article
  2. 2 Whether the article is defamatory at common law
  3. 3 Whether the article has a tendency to cause serious harm to the reputation of the Claimant

Ratio Decidendi

The article, in both print and web versions, imputes reasonable cause to suspect professional negligence in the Claimant's prosecutorial decisions, which is defamatory of her professional reputation at common law and has a tendency to cause serious harm.

Court Disposition

Preliminary issues determined in favour of the Claimant

Orders

  • The meaning of the article is as pleaded by the Claimant
  • The article is defamatory at common law