Are expensive libel cases on the way out?
The Complete Mystery of Madeleine McCann™ :: Portuguese Police Investigation :: McCanns v Dr Gonçalo Amaral + ECHR
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Are expensive libel cases on the way out?
Are expensive libel cases on the way out?
Posted on June 5, 2016 by davidhencke
https://davidhencke.wordpress.com/2016/06/05/are-expensive-libel-cases-on-the-way-out/
snips:
‘Some fascinating new official figures showing a startling decline in the number of new libel cases have been revealed on the excellent media law blog Inforrm.
They show a 40 per cent drop in the number of new libel claims in the Royal Courts of Justice between 2014 and 2015 from 227 to 135.’
‘As the blog said: ” Even with costs budgeting, both parties’ cost of a libel case taken to full trial are likely to be of the order of £700,000 (for example, Stocker £682,000; Yeo, £716,000).
Damages are effectively capped at £275,000 for the most serious possible libel (see Barron v Vines [2016] EWHC 1226 (QB)) but, in practice, even after a contested trial awards rarely exceed £100,000.’
‘What this doesn’t disclose is whether the rich and powerful are using other means to silence critics particularly bloggers. This big drop in cases has been accompanied by a big rise in the number of people using the ” right to be forgotten ” imposed by the European Court to get Google to remove serious criticism of individuals from its search engine on the net.
This is a far cheaper and effective way of silencing critics.’
..................................................
So combined costs in Uk for a full libel trial likely to be well over £1m. Portugal slightly less maybe, but still enormous.
Posted on June 5, 2016 by davidhencke
https://davidhencke.wordpress.com/2016/06/05/are-expensive-libel-cases-on-the-way-out/
snips:
‘Some fascinating new official figures showing a startling decline in the number of new libel cases have been revealed on the excellent media law blog Inforrm.
They show a 40 per cent drop in the number of new libel claims in the Royal Courts of Justice between 2014 and 2015 from 227 to 135.’
‘As the blog said: ” Even with costs budgeting, both parties’ cost of a libel case taken to full trial are likely to be of the order of £700,000 (for example, Stocker £682,000; Yeo, £716,000).
Damages are effectively capped at £275,000 for the most serious possible libel (see Barron v Vines [2016] EWHC 1226 (QB)) but, in practice, even after a contested trial awards rarely exceed £100,000.’
‘What this doesn’t disclose is whether the rich and powerful are using other means to silence critics particularly bloggers. This big drop in cases has been accompanied by a big rise in the number of people using the ” right to be forgotten ” imposed by the European Court to get Google to remove serious criticism of individuals from its search engine on the net.
This is a far cheaper and effective way of silencing critics.’
..................................................
So combined costs in Uk for a full libel trial likely to be well over £1m. Portugal slightly less maybe, but still enormous.
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Re: Are expensive libel cases on the way out?
It makes you wonder if they have had any legal advice as to the cost to them if they lose?
If they DO lose and have to pay their own and Goncalo Amaral's costs AND if Dr Amaral then sues the McCanns and wins they would likely have to sell their house or declare bankruptcy - unless of course they actually do have some rich backers prepared to stump up the money. The only problem with that is that rich people generally have some common sense and would wonder just why the McCanns would continue suing a guy who published a book years ago in a foreign language and mabe also ask themselves "what search"?
If they DO lose and have to pay their own and Goncalo Amaral's costs AND if Dr Amaral then sues the McCanns and wins they would likely have to sell their house or declare bankruptcy - unless of course they actually do have some rich backers prepared to stump up the money. The only problem with that is that rich people generally have some common sense and would wonder just why the McCanns would continue suing a guy who published a book years ago in a foreign language and mabe also ask themselves "what search"?
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Re: Are expensive libel cases on the way out?
Don't forget multi-millionaire Edward Smethurst is in the background. A million quid to him is like loose change.Casey5 wrote:It makes you wonder if they have had any legal advice as to the cost to them if they lose?
If they DO lose and have to pay their own and Goncalo Amaral's costs AND if Dr Amaral then sues the McCanns and wins they would likely have to sell their house or declare bankruptcy - unless of course they actually do have some rich backers prepared to stump up the money. The only problem with that is that rich people generally have some common sense and would wonder just why the McCanns would continue suing a guy who published a book years ago in a foreign language and mabe also ask themselves "what search"?
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Re: Are expensive libel cases on the way out?
I think the McCanns still have several wealthy backers. They dont want that book coming out in English.
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Re: Are expensive libel cases on the way out?
Get'emGonçalo wrote:Don't forget multi-millionaire Edward Smethurst is in the background. A million quid to him is like loose change.Casey5 wrote:It makes you wonder if they have had any legal advice as to the cost to them if they lose?
If they DO lose and have to pay their own and Goncalo Amaral's costs AND if Dr Amaral then sues the McCanns and wins they would likely have to sell their house or declare bankruptcy - unless of course they actually do have some rich backers prepared to stump up the money. The only problem with that is that rich people generally have some common sense and would wonder just why the McCanns would continue suing a guy who published a book years ago in a foreign language and mabe also ask themselves "what search"?
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The Complete Mystery of Madeleine McCann™ :: Portuguese Police Investigation :: McCanns v Dr Gonçalo Amaral + ECHR
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