Gary Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd

Gary Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd

The website publication did not allege actual guilt but conveyed that there were, and at the date of online publication continued to be, strong grounds to believe that the claimant had abused his position by accepting bribes, committing a serious criminal offence and breach of duty. The meaning is as pleaded by the claimant.

Parties
Claimant: Gary Flood; Defendant: Times Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
25 July 2013
Procedural Posture
Libel / Judgment on Preliminary Issue of Meaning After Permission to Amend Particulars of Claim
Outcome
Determination of meaning in favour of claimant's pleaded meaning
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning of Defamatory Publication, Reynolds Defence, Archive Publication Liability
Defamation Media Law Libel Meaning of Defamatory Publication Reynolds Defence Archive Publication Liability

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Parties

Gary Flood

Claimant

Times Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel / Judgment on Preliminary Issue of Meaning After Permission to Amend Particulars of Claim

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the website publication complained of as read after 5 September 2007 and before October 2009?
  2. 2 Does the publication allege actual guilt, reasonable grounds to suspect, or strong grounds to believe wrongdoing by the claimant?

Ratio Decidendi

The website publication did not allege actual guilt but conveyed that there were, and at the date of online publication continued to be, strong grounds to believe that the claimant had abused his position by accepting bribes, committing a serious criminal offence and breach of duty. The meaning is as pleaded by the claimant.

Court Disposition

Determination of meaning in favour of claimant's pleaded meaning

Orders

  • The meaning of the website publication for readers after 5 September 2007 and before October 2009 is as pleaded by the claimant: that there were, and at the date of publication continued to be, strong grounds to believe the claimant had abused his position by corruptly accepting bribes, committing a serious criminal...