Defamation & Reputation
Defamation is the umbrella term which covers both libel and slander. When you are defamed, harm is caused to your reputation. If that harm is serious, and depending upon the context in which the untrue words have been published about you, it is possible that you could bring a claim for compensation and an injunction. Defamation claims are only dealt with by the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court. They are generally very complex and technical, and expert assistance is required to deal with defamation matters effectively.
There are two types of defamation, libel and slander. Libel is untrue statements which are made in a permanent form, usually in writing. Slander refers to untrue statements which are made in a non permanent form, usually by being spoken. Defamation of character can have far reaching consequences. You could fall out with friends and family, you could be shunned from clubs or societies that you are a member of, and in extreme circumstances, you could lose your job. Restoring your reputation involves making technically challenging allegations to your opponents and then potentially bringing a claim in court. The complexity of this type of case, and the short period of time that you have to bring a claim, means that it is advisable to speak to a lawyer as quickly as possible if you have suffered defamation of your character. We have a team of expert lawyers who can assist you with this type of case.
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Judith Thompson
The disastrous conclusion of Johnny Depp's English libel case has seen the resurrection of his suit against Amber Heard in the USA.22/04/2022 -
Judith Thompson
The Mail on Sunday's reporting of Harry's security arrangements, and whether he offered to pay himself, are to be scrutinised by a libel judge in the High Court.04/04/2022 -
Judith Thompson
A libel case between Rooney and Vardy concerning leaks to newspapers is set to continue for some time yet, as mediation stumbles.07/03/2022 -
Matthew Howe
Trustpilot leads the way in tackling fake reviews by introducing a feature which requires reviewers to verify their identity before they can publish material.11/02/2022 -
Judith Thompson
The owner of three pubs was hounded by his local council for years, with malicious prosecutions. Decades later he has won an apology and a substantial payout.26/01/2022 -
Matthew Howe
A tweet aimed at Rachel Riley has led to a relatively modest damages award of £10,000 by a libel judge.21/12/2021 -
Matthew Howe
A councillor who published a libellous tweet depicting Jeremy Corbyn, has quickly retracted the statement he made and apologised for his actions.30/11/2021 -
Judith Thompson
The number of social media users on the planet is huge, and it's growing. Every social media user is a publisher under the law and untrue statements are inevitably published, but what can you do?28/09/2021 -
Are you at risk of being sued for libel or breach of privacy, as a result of your social media posts? A new campaign encourages consideration of these issues.07/07/2021 -
Trustpilot is refusing to comply with a court order to remove a libellous review from its site - what are the implications of this for businesses trying to deal with untrue and malicious reviews?26/02/2021 -
Judith Thompson
A Judge confirms that individuals can expect their private correspondence to be protected. This will apply to letters, emails, texts and all other forms of written communication.22/02/2021 -
Matthew Howe
A recent decision in the High Court made it clear that in libel cases, the level of damages can be reduced because of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.16/02/2021 -
Fair and accurate references can be vital to ensuring you get the job - but what if your old employer gives you an unfair reference?10/09/2020 -
Damages for defamation can vary wildly depending on the country where the case is heard. What can you expect?14/07/2020 -
Judith Thompson
Newspapers can make mistakes, no more so than when printing photos - have you been affected?25/04/2019 -
Judith Thompson
A long running case was brought anonymously against Google, but that is about to change.31/08/2018 -
Judith Thompson
Google are being sued in Australia by a man whose image appeared in a search for criminals.18/06/2018 -
Judith Thompson
A High Court decision last week sets a new precedent in right to be forgotten cases.17/04/2018 -
Judith Thompson
Is it really in the public interest to publicise spent convictions online?06/04/2018 -
Judith Thompson
Recent case highlights why it's important to settle cases when you can.04/04/2018 -
Judith Thompson
A master class in how to bring a swift defamation claim, has been provided by Jeremy Corbyn.12/03/2018 -
Judith Thompson
A BBC article today provides useful advice about how to tackle this upsetting and sensitive issue.24/01/2018 -
Judith Thompson
The late acceptance of an offer had costs consequences for a libel claimant.16/01/2018 -
Judith Thompson
When you search for your name online, do unwanted results appear? If you want to tidy up your online profile, find out how we can help.05/01/2018 -
Judith Thompson
The right to be forgotten has helped thousands of people get unwanted search results removed from the Internet.24/10/2017 -
Judith Thompson
A House of Lords debate on the new Data Protection Bill has highlighted this thorny issue.23/10/2017 -
A recent case highlights the difficulties with these claims, but offers an alternative way to clear your name.19/09/2017
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Judith Thompson
A recent Swiss case found that liking a harmful comment posted by someone else was defamatory. Could this happen here?18/09/2017 -
Judith Thompson
A Solicitor working in house for Blackpool Football Club has brought a successful claim for libel against a fan who posted an untrue comment about him online.10/07/2017 -
Judith Thompson
Candidates make all sorts of statements about their opponents in the run up to an election. But what if those statements are untrue?16/05/2017 -
Judith Thompson
A claim by papers to persuade the Supreme Court to get rid of no win no fee for libel claims has failed.18/04/2017 -
Judith Thompson
A recently settled case could have set a new high in damages for libel in the English Courts.13/04/2017 -
Judith Thompson
This important decision on the meaning of "serious harm" in libel claims could be subject to appeal. Read on to find out more.21/03/2017 -
Judith Thompson
The time limits can be very tight, and so if you think you have a claim for libel or slander, you need to act quickly.20/03/2017 -
Judith Thompson
A grilling from the Home Affairs Select Committee has focused on social media platforms' poor response to customer complaints, and the advertising revenue gained from offensive material.15/03/2017 -
Judith Thompson
High Court Considers the meaning of Serious Harm in Defamation case, which will assist others bringing cases about defamation on social media.14/03/2017 -
Samuels Solicitors have successfully recovered significant damages for a client wrongly accused of being a paedophile. Read on to find out more.18/01/2017
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Judith Thompson
We have helped a client break the link between his name and an outdated Google search result, which was impacting upon his life. Can we help you?18/11/2016 -
Judith Thompson
If you have been the victim of libel or slander, read on to see how we can help.10/11/2016 -
Judith Thompson
The defence of Public Interest has been used successfully for the first time in a defamation case involving rape.03/08/2016 -
Judith Thompson
Conditional "no win no fee" agreements for defamation, libel and slander are proving more popular than ever.05/07/2016 -
Judith Thompson
Who will win the battle between France and Google over the right to be forgotten and will it apply to you?20/05/2016 -
Judith Thompson
We have created a new bespoke service for letting agents who are concerned about online reviews of their businesses. Read on to find out more.22/02/2016 -
Judith Thompson
Judge in a Spanish case orders defamation defendant to tweet judgment made against him, every day for a month.15/10/2015 -
Judith Thompson
When you make a false statement about someone online, what are the consequences?05/08/2015 -
Judith Thompson
What can you do about fake online reviews? They are a growing problem and the law is slow to catch up. Read on to find out what you can do about them.26/05/2015 -
Judith Thompson
Bad and unfair references are damaging. The law says that employers must give references that are "true, fair and accurate" but what can you do when this doesn't happen? Read on to find out.22/05/2015 -
Judith Thompson
Youth court proceedings are usually subject to reporting restrictions. The High Court confirms that individual journalists and editors can be held responsible for breaches.08/05/2015 -
Judith Thompson
Following a decision of the European Court, internet search engines must consider requests for material to removed from search results, and we can help.18/03/2015 -
Judith Thompson
Has someone said or written something about you which has harmed your reputation or the reputation of your business? Traditional CFA or "no win no fee" arrangements are still available for defamation cases, but don't delay, as you have limited time to bring a claim.22/09/2014