Reference: [2002] EWCA Civ 1034; [2003] EMLR 175
Court: Court of Appeal
Judge: Peter Gibson & Potter LJJ and Sir Murray Stuart-Smith
Date of judgment: 18 Jul 2002
Summary: Defamation - Libel - Summary Judgment - Evidence of Publication - No prospect of Success - CPR Part 24 - Abuse of Process
Appearances: Jacob Dean KC (Defendant)
Instructing Solicitors: Peter Carter-Ruck and Partners
Facts
The Claimant complained of libel published to his wife and unspecificed others. His wife knew whether the libel was true or not. Previte J struck out the claim of publication to others under CPR Part 24 and the remainder of the claim as abuse of process on the grounds of the Claimant’s conduct and the overriding objective.
Issue
Whether court entitled to intervene on the grounds of abuse of process.
Held
Judge was correct to strike out the claim of publication to unspecified others and to find that claim that remained was an abuse.
Comment
Although the facts were extreme this does show an increasing willingness of the courts to exercise control over technically valid but disproportionate claims. However, Eady J has said in Howe & Co v Burden [2004] EWHC 196 (QB) that there is no general “game is not worth the candle” basis for striking out defamation claims.