England and Wales Case Law

Ping Fai Yuen v Fun Yung Li & Anor

Claims in conversion are struck out as English law does not permit conversion of intangible property such as Bitcoin; trespass to goods is not struck out at this stage pending possible amendment; security for costs is refused due to overwhelming evidence, assets within jurisdiction, and unreliable cost estimates; substituted service is granted for Second Defendant.

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• Digital assets
• Conversion
• Trespass to goods
• Unjust enrichment
• Breach of confidence
• Misuse of private information

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Cynthia Nkiruka Tooley v Associated Newspapers Ltd

The application was dismissed because the claimant failed to establish that Guardian News & Media Ltd was mixed up in, or facilitated, the alleged wrongdoing. The Guardian was merely a recipient of information and did not publish or otherwise participate in the wrongdoing. As the third condition for a Norwich Pharmacal order was not met, the court's discretion did not arise.

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• Norwich pharmacal orders
• Journalistic source protection
• Breach of confidence
• Misuse of private information

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Lee Feldman & Anor v Gambling Commission

The High Court dismissed claims that a 2023 RNS and a 2024 statement misused private information or breached confidence in a Gambling Commission regulatory context.

• Misuse of private information
• Breach of confidence
• Publicity code
• Regulatory investigations
• Section 116 review
• Damages

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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.

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

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National Crime Agency v GKC (No.2)

National Crime Agency v GKC (No.2) [2026] EWHC 929 (Admin) (24 April 2026)

The Administrative Court discharged interim anonymity and reporting restrictions in UWO/IFO proceedings, holding that open justice prevailed over Article 8 concerns.

• Open justice
• Anonymity orders
• Reporting restrictions
• Unexplained wealth orders
• Interim freezing orders
• Article 8 echr

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Benjamin James Smith & Anor v Richard Copestake

The High Court refused an interim injunction in a dispute over alleged defamation, harassment, breach of confidence and unlawful interference.

• Interim injunctions
• Freedom of expression
• Misuse of private information
• Unlawful interference
• Slapp
• Disclosure procedures

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Smith & Anor v Copestake

Smith & Anor v Copestake [2026] EWHC 924 (KB) (22 April 2026)

The High Court dismissed an application for interim injunctions in a defamation, harassment and confidence claim, finding the claimants had not met the required thresholds.

• Interim injunctions
• Freedom of expression
• Misuse of private information
• Unlawful interference
• Breach of contract
• Interim-injunctions

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Cynthia Nkiruka Tooley MBE v Times Media Limited

The essential purpose of the interim injunction application was to protect the claimant's reputation, so the defamation rule applied. The claimant failed to show the statements were unarguably defamatory or that there were no grounds for a defence. The Norwich Pharmacal order was refused because the claimant had not established necessity, having not taken reasonable steps to confirm the source, and the strong protection of journalistic sources should not be overridden.

Source excerpt

• Interim injunctions
• Norwich pharmacal orders
• Misuse of private information
• Breach of confidence
• Defamation
• Malicious falsehood

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Tooley v Times Media Ltd

Tooley v Times Media Ltd [2026] EWHC 675 (KB) (23 March 2026)

The High Court refused an interim injunction and a Norwich Pharmacal order in a media dispute, holding the applications were driven by reputational harm and lacking necessity.

• Interim injunctions
• Norwich pharmacal orders
• Misuse of private information
• Breach of confidence
• Defamation
• Malicious falsehood

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Yuen v Li & Anor

Yuen v Li & Anor [2026] EWHC 532 (KB) (10 March 2026)

Interlocutory judgment in a Bitcoin misappropriation claim. The court struck out conversion, allowed amendment, and deferred decision on trespass to goods pending further pleading.

• Conversion
• Trespass to goods
• Unjust enrichment
• Proprietary restitution
• Constructive trust
• Breach of confidence

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