England and Wales Case Law

Nikoletta Read v Claudio di Giovanni & Ors

The claimant failed to meet the threshold for interim injunctive relief under s12(3) HRA for misuse of private information, libel, malicious falsehood, and harassment due to insufficient evidence of serious harm, lack of urgency, and delay. The bulk of any damage had already occurred, and there was no real risk of further harm pending trial. Therefore, the application for an interim injunction was refused.

Source excerpt

• Interim injunctions
• Libel
• Misuse of private information
• Malicious falsehood
• Harassment
• Delay

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Evangelos Marinakis v Eirini Karypidou & Ors

The High Court determined preliminary issues in a defamation claim about online posts, videos and billboards alleging serious criminality, and broadly accepted the claimant’s pleaded meanings.

• Libel
• Unlawful means conspiracy
• Meaning of publications
• Fact vs opinion
• Defamatory at common law
• Defamation

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Marinakis v Karypidou & Ors

Marinakis v Karypidou & Ors [2026] EWHC 1192 (KB) (20 May 2026)

High Court preliminary issues decision in a libel and unlawful means conspiracy claim over online publications alleging corruption, drug trafficking and match-fixing.

• Libel
• Unlawful means conspiracy
• Meaning of defamatory statements
• Fact vs opinion
• Defamatory at common law
• Hyperlink context

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Amar Lodhia v Twelve Management Company (Bromley-by-Bow) Limited & Ors

After discontinuance of a defamation claim, the High Court ordered the claimant to pay the defendants’ costs and made further evidence directions.

• Discontinuance
• Summary disposal
• Costs orders
• Bankruptcy and litigation capacity
• Reasonable adjustments
• Pre-action protocol compliance

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Lodhia v Twelve Trees Management Company (Bromley-By-Bow) Ltd & Ors

Lodhia v Twelve Trees Management Company (Bromley-By-Bow) Ltd & Ors [2026] EWHC 1177 (KB) (18 May 2026)

After Lodhia discontinued his defamation claim, the High Court held he must pay the defendants’ costs, including costs of prior applications and amendments.

• Discontinuance
• Costs orders
• Bankruptcy and costs liability
• Pre-action protocols
• Reasonable adjustments
• Litigant in person conduct

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Ogunkami v Chia

Ogunkami v Chia [2026] EWCA Civ 588 (13 May 2026)

The Court of Appeal dismissed a libel damages appeal, holding the claimant had not properly pleaded or proved foreign publication harm and refusing a late amendment.

• Assessment of damages
• Jurisdiction
• Foreign publication
• Double actionability
• Default judgment
• Amendment of pleadings

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De Giovanni v Kehoe & Ors

De Giovanni v Kehoe & Ors [2026] EWHC 1136 (KB) (13 May 2026)

Defamation claims over a Londoner article led to set-aside, strike-out, and jurisdiction issues. The court set aside default judgment, struck out the County Court claim, and set aside the High Court claim form.

• Default judgment
• Service of process
• Abuse of process
• Jurisdiction
• Strike out applications
• Defamation

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Idowu Ogunkami v Cynthia Chia

The Court of Appeal dismissed a libel damages appeal, holding the claimant had not properly pleaded or proved foreign publication harm and that £25,000 was adequate.

• Damages assessment
• Default judgment
• Jurisdiction
• Foreign publication
• Double actionability
• Amendment of pleadings

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Claudio de Giovanni v Cormac Kehoe & Ors

The court set aside default judgment in a defamation claim, struck out the County Court proceedings as an abuse of process, and set aside the High Court claim form for non-service.

• Default judgment
• Abuse of process
• Jurisdiction
• Service of process
• Relief from sanctions
• Defamation

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Guerrilla Marketing Ltd v NGM Advertising Limited

The court decided preliminary issues on meaning in a defamation claim over emails alleging a marketing rival had mis-sold advertising space and acted fraudulently.

• Libel
• Malicious falsehood
• Unlawful interference with economic interests
• Procuring breach of contract
• Meaning of publications
• Fact vs opinion

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