Legal Innovator of the Year Award 2014 - Joanne Wheeler

News Round-up - Defamation Act 2013 comes into effect in England and Wales

BBC News wrote on December 31 2013 here, 'Defamation Act 2013 aims to improve libel laws.' The Press Gazette wrote a piece by the title here, 'Defamation Act comes into force with 'serious harm' now needed for claims to succeed.' The editor of the Press Gazette Dominic Ponsford wrote a piece here, 'Six things all journalists need to know about the Defamation Act 2013 (which is now in force).' John Aglionby and The Financial Times produced a piece here, 'UK Defamation Act aims to end trivial claims and libel tourism.'

See the earlier blog post here where Olivia O'Kane outlines the 9 keys changes enacted under the new law. Introductory blog post here.

Paul Tweed letter to the Financial Times

The Financial Times published a letter by Belfast media lawyer Paul Tweed.

From Mr Paul Tweed. 

Sir, You report (“Reducing costs of UK libel actions could cause wave of litigation”, November 4) that a media law firm has suggested that the proposed Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting “would hurt small publishers disproportionately”. 

However, the proposed costs protection order may also be granted in favour of a regional newspaper or publisher with limited financial means as well as an impecunious claimant. In other words, both claimants and defendants with limited means may not have to pay costs if it is determined to be in the overall interests of justice. 

Paul Tweed, Senior Partner, Johnsons Law Firm, London SW1, UK

Read in the FT here. Read on Scribd here and here.