October 13, 2010
High Court defamation claims jumped 15% last year, the highest level for more than a decade, new research revealed.
According to a leading law firm, recent official Judicial Statistics show that 298 High Court defamation writs were issued in London in 2009, up from 259 in 2008 and a near 50% increase over a three-year period.
The figure marks the highest level of High Court defamation claims since major reform of civil procedure rules in 1999. Designed to usher in faster dispute resolution, such changes have lead to more pre-court settlements today.
Further analysis shows claims relating to allegations of involvement with extremist groups or terrorism have risen sharply, suggesting that the internet’s impact on daily lives and feelings of paranoia have lead to a general increase in libel claims.
RPC media partner Jaron Lewis said: "This is the third year in a row where the number of claims has increased, firmly putting to bed the notion that libel law is not a serious challenge for the media."
The findings come as libel reform continues to rise up the political agenda.
After the Labour administration’s unsuccessful attempting to push through libel reform before this year's general election, the coalition government has since promised to review libel law with a view to protecting free speech.
If you have any questions regarding libel protection and reform, our solicitors are here to help.
