Allowed Citations: [2018] UKFTT 2017 – 0262 (GRC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Information Updated: 26 April 2022; Ref: scu.621478
The claimant appealed against a stay of part of his proceedings relating to the 1998 Act. He questioned whether section 32(4) provided a proper balance of his human rights. Held: The court being in disagreement, the issue was referred to the CJEU. Judges: Sir Terence Etherton MR, Lord Justice McFarlane and Lady Justice Sharp Citations: … Continue reading Stunt v Associated Newspapers Ltd: CA 30 Jul 2018
The SSHD appealed on liability from the award of damages after it published on its website statistical and anonymised data about return of asylum and other applicants to their countries of origin. Unfortunately, a link was provided within the data to the non-anonymised data. The claim was at common law for distress and under the … Continue reading Secretary of State for The Home Department and Another v TLU and Another: CA 15 Jun 2018
The complainant has requested a Memorandum of Understanding, dated 7 October 2015, from St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Eltham (‘the School’). The School provided part of the document, but redacted in full the section entitled Financial Responsibility under section 40(2) of the FOIA – Third party personal data. The Commissioner’s decision is that only … Continue reading St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Eltham (Education): ICO 22 Jan 2018
Dismissed Citations: [2018] UKFTT 2017 – 0239 (GRC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Freedom of Information Act 2000, Data Protection Act 1998 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Information Updated: 22 April 2022; Ref: scu.617048
(Scotland) By the 2014 Act, the Scottish Parliament had provided that each child should have a named person to monitor that child’s needs, with information about him or her shared as necessary. The Institute objected that the imposed obligation to share information was outwith the powers of the Parliament. It extended the information to be … Continue reading The Christian Institute and Others v The Lord Advocate: SC 28 Jul 2016
An application was made at this pre-trial review, by the claimants in two actions, where they had already obtained orders to preserve their anonymity, for orders protecting that anonymity under the defendant’s search engine. Judges: Nicklin J Citations: [2019] QB 344, [2018] EWHC 67 (QB) (Rev 3 Links: Bailii Statutes: Contempt of Court Act 1981 … Continue reading NT1 v Google Llc: QBD 18 Jan 2018
A probation officer who revealed a domestic abuse victim’s new address to the alleged perpetrator has been fined pounds 150 following a prosecution bought by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Victoria Idowu claimed that she provided the victim’s full name, new address and date of birth, along with the details of the investigating officer, as … Continue reading Idowu (Prosecution): ICO 15 Aug 2013
The complainant requested copies of any correspondence between the council and the Local Government Ombudsman between January 2007 and June 2007. The Commissioner understands that this primarily relates to an investigation carried out by the Ombudsman into allegations of maladministration by the council. A report was published by the Ombudsman on 31 May 2007 as … Continue reading Ryedale District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 13 Jul 2009
The complainant requested a copy of a report written by a senior officer of the public authority regarding an investigation into alleged corruption at Hartlepool Borough Council between 1996 and 1998. The public authority said that it was unable to locate the final report following extensive enquiries but it had located an interim report into … Continue reading Cleveland Police (Decision Notice): ICO 23 Feb 2009
Part Allowed Citations: [2018] UKFTT 2017 – 0124 (GRC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Data Protection Act 1998 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Information Updated: 04 April 2022; Ref: scu.604770
The complainant requested statistical information from the Local Government Ombudsman regarding the work of one individual case officer. The LGO claimed that the information was exempt under sections 40 and 36 and that it also wished to rely on section 12 of the Act. The Commissioner’s decision is that the information is the personal data … Continue reading Local Government Ombudsman (Decision Notice): ICO 4 Nov 2010
The complainant submitted 2 requests to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council asking for a range of information relating to properties in a residential cul-de-sac in Bolton. In relation to the first request, the public authority provided some information and confirmed that further information was not held. In relation to the second request, the council refused to … Continue reading Bolton Council (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Mar 2012
The parties disputed the functions of the Commissioner in respect of personal data held by the SSHD for which he claimed exemption from disclosure on the ground of national security. The applicant had sought copies of personal data held about himself, and the Secretary had claimed exemption but had said that the Minister would not … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department, Regina (on the Application of) v Information Tribunal and Information Commissioner: Admn 23 Nov 2006
Liability in Damages on Statute Breach to be Clear Damages were to be awarded against a Local Authority for breach of statutory duty in a care case only if the statute was clear that damages were capable of being awarded. in the ordinary case a breach of statutory duty does not, by itself, give rise … Continue reading X (Minors) v Bedfordshire County Council; M (A Minor) and Another v Newham London Borough Council; Etc: HL 29 Jun 1995
The complainant has requested information relating to an application for discretionary relief from non-domestic rates for a specified commercial property. Information was disclosed, with names of some individuals contained in the information redacted, applying the provisions of the exemption at section 40 of FOIA to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 … Continue reading Birmingham City Council (Decision Notice): ICO 22 Mar 2012
The complainant requested copies of the legal advice sought by the Department for Communities and Local Government relating to the issue of whether Energy Performance Certificates for private dwellings contain personal data according to the definition in the Data Protection Act 1998. DCLG withheld the legal advice using section 42(1) of the Freedom of Information … Continue reading Department for Communities and Local Government (Decision Notice): ICO 13 Sep 2011
ICO The complainant has requested transcripts of interviews conducted by the Environment Agency with the Deputy Chief Executive of Heart of England NHS Trust and a senior manager about waste management at the Trust. The complainant also asked for a letter sent by the EA to the Trust in February 2007. The Environment Agency withheld … Continue reading Environment Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 16 Jul 2012
On 2 February 2010 the complainant requested information about the correspondence and communications between the MHRA and another organisation. The MHRA did not respond to this request. After correspondence with the Commissioner, it explained that it believed it was not obliged to respond to this request for information by virtue of section 17(6) because it … Continue reading Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 22 Sep 2011
The defendant had been part of an organisation subject to an investigation of child sex abuse. He was cleared of involvement, but had disseminated the confidential reports containing sensitive personal data to support his contention that the process was being misused. He appealed from his conviction under the 1998 Act, saying that the burden of … Continue reading Shepherd v The Information Commissioner: CACD 18 Jan 2019
Invalid [2016] UKFTT 2016 – 302 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998 England and Wales Information Updated: 27 January 2022; Ref: scu.572820
Dismissed [2016] UKFTT 2015 – 0245 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998 England and Wales Information Updated: 27 January 2022; Ref: scu.572766
Dismissed [2016] UKFTT 2016 – 0155 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 England and Wales Information Updated: 27 January 2022; Ref: scu.572306
Dismissed [2016] UKFTT 2015 – 0258 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 England and Wales Information Updated: 27 January 2022; Ref: scu.572303
ICO Mr Tandon has been prosecuted at Manchester Magistrates’ Court for offences of unlawfully obtaining and selling personal data. The defendant, who worked at Lex Autolease Limited emailed personal data of 551 Lex Autolease customers, relating to road traffic accidents, from his former employer’s computer system to his personal email address, which he then sold … Continue reading Tandon (Prosecutions, Finance Insurance and Credit): ICO 2 Nov 2016
ECJ Reference for a preliminary ruling: Arbeitsgericht Lorrach – Germany. Social policy – Protection of the health and safety of workers – Directive 93/104/EC – Scope – Emergency workers in attendance in ambulances in the framework of an emergency service run by the German Red Cross – Definition of ‘road transport’ – Maximum weekly working … Continue reading Pfeiffer v Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, Kreisverband Waldshut eV (1): ECJ 5 Oct 2004
Allowed [2016] UKFTT 2015 – 0275 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 England and Wales Information Updated: 18 January 2022; Ref: scu.566169
The claimant sought damages for defamation. The council had decided that she had threatened a member of staff and notified various people, and entered her name on a violent persons register. She alleged malice, the council pleaded justification and qualified privilege. She also complained of the breach of her data protection rights. She had been … Continue reading Clift v Slough Borough Council and Another: QBD 6 Jul 2009
Three claimants appealed against refusal of declarations that the response of the police to requests for Criminal Records Bureau enhanced checks, were a disproportionate interference in their right to private and family life, and in particular that the disclosure of old convictions infringed their human rights. Held: The appeals succeeded. The statutory system which required … Continue reading T, Regina (on The Application of) v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester and Others: CA 29 Jan 2013
Each appellant complained of the disclosure by the respondent of very old and minor offences to potential employers, destroying prospects of finding work. Two statutory schemes were challenged, raising two separate questions, namely whether any interference with Article 8 ECHR is: (1) ‘in accordance with the law’ (‘the legality test’) and (2) ‘necessary in a … Continue reading Gallagher for Judicial Review (NI): SC 30 Jan 2019
Complaints had been made that the police were not deleting from their criminal records very old records of minor convictions. The police appealed against a finding that they should do so under Data Protection Principles. The Police had used a policy agreed with the Respondent, but had withdrawn it following the Bichard inquiry, and replaced … Continue reading Chief Constable of Humberside Police and Others v The Information Commissioner and Another: CA 19 Oct 2009
Rebalancing of Enhanced Disclosure Requirements The Court was asked as to the practice of supplying enhanced criminal record certificates under the 1997 Act. It was said that the release of reports of suspicions was a disproportionate interference in the claimants article 8 rights to a private life. The enhanced record revealed that the claimant’s son … Continue reading L, Regina (On the Application of) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: SC 29 Oct 2009
ICO (Central Government) The complainants requested information from the Department for Communities and Local Government (‘DCLG’) relating to a complaint they had made about Arun District Council (‘the council’). DCLG refused to respond to the requests on the basis that they were vexatious under section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the FOIA’). … Continue reading Department for Communities and Local Government – FS50559640: ICO 23 Jul 2015
Local government (County council) The complainant has requested information from Derbyshire County Council (the council) regarding the purchase of a specific property. The council refused to provide some of the requested information relying on section 38 of the FOIA as disclosure would prejudice the health and safety of individuals. It also relied on section 41 … Continue reading Derbyshire County Council (Local Government (County Council)): ICO 13 Apr 2015
ICO Central government The complainant has requested information concerning inspection policies and training held by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (‘APHA’). He has also requested information concerning a Moderation Panel hearing which considered his complaint made to APHA. The request was made as part of a subject access request (‘SAR’). APHA provided a response … Continue reading Animal and Plant Health Agency (Central Government ): ICO 5 Nov 2015
ICO Local government (Borough council) The complainant has requested from Newham Council the total amount it has deducted from its elected councillors’ basic and where applicable special responsibility allowances and passed to funds/accounts controlled by the mayor, the Labour Group or the Labour Party between 6 April 2010 and 5 April 2014. Newham Council has … Continue reading Newham London Borough Council (Local Government (Borough Council)): ICO 13 Jan 2015
The clamants sought orders under the 1998 Act for disclosure of documents about them by the defendant solicitors and others. The defendants said that the request would require the consideration of a very large number of documents, considering in each case whether they would require discovery and or were protected by legal professional privilege, and … Continue reading Dawson-Damer and Others v Taylor Wessing Llp and Others: ChD 6 Aug 2015
T and JB, asserted that the reference in certificates issued by the state to cautions given to them violated their right to respect for their private life under article 8 of the Convention. T further claims that the obligation cast upon him to disclose the warnings given to him violated the same right. Held: The … Continue reading T and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for The Home Department and Another: SC 18 Jun 2014
Police Data Retention Justifiable The appellants challenged the collection of data by the police, alleging that its retention interfered with their Article 8 rights. C complained of the retention of records of his lawful activities attending political demonstrations, and T complained of the retention of an harassment warning issued against him. The Commissioner now appealed … Continue reading Catt and T, Regina (on The Applications of) v Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis: SC 4 Mar 2015
A prison policy requiring prisoners not to be present when their property was searched and their mail was examined was unlawful. The policy had been introduced after failures in search procedures where officers had been intimidated by the presence of prisoners. Particularly when examining documents subject to legal professional privilege, the rules did not allow … Continue reading Regina (Daly) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 23 May 2001
TTTx Excise duty – Penalty for failure to supply requested information – section 9 FA 1994 – whether requested information reasonably required – section 118B CEMA 1979 – whether provision of requested information prohibited by the Data Protection Act 1998 – whether penalty disproportionate [2012] UKFTT 199 (TC) Bailii England and Wales Customs and Excise … Continue reading Henn-Macrae v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 15 Mar 2012
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) sections 1(1) and (6) (General entitlement); 2(1)(a) and (2)(e)(ii) (Effect of exemptions); 38(1)(b), (2)(a)(i) and (2)(b) and (5) (definition of ‘the data protection principles’, ‘data subject’ and ‘personal data’) (Personal information) Data Protection Act 1998 (the DPA) sections 1(1) (Basic interpretative provisions) (definition of personal data); 2 (Sensitive … Continue reading Howarth and Chief Constable of The Police Service of Scotland: SIC 29 Apr 2015
EAT Victimisation Discrimination: Whistleblowing – UNFAIR DISMISSAL – Automatically unfair reasons The Claimant was an employee of the Respondent and had at one time been an elected shop steward and health and safety representative. He received a concern from a work colleague that his line manager had emailed a large number of documents to her … Continue reading Barton v Royal Borough of Greenwich (Victimisation Discrimination: Whistleblowing): EAT 1 May 2015
The bank challenged measures taken by HM Treasury to restrict access to the United Kingdom’s financial markets by a major Iranian commercial bank, Bank Mellat, on the account of its alleged connection with Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The bank sought to have the direction given under section 7 of the 2008 Act. … Continue reading Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury (No 2): SC 19 Jun 2013
The claimant sought disclosure of information under the 1998 Act. The defendant said that the application was an abuse of process and an attempt to circumvent the 2003 Act. The claimant had been convicted of involvement in kidnapping and murder in Somalia and was to appeal aganst a sentence of death. The claimant said that … Continue reading Kololo v Commissioner of Police for The Metropolis: QBD 9 Mar 2015
ICO An undertaking to comply with the seventh data protection principle has been signed by Department of Justice Northern Ireland. This follows the sale of a filing cabinet that contained documents originating from within the Northern Ireland Prison service. The documents contained personal data, as defined by section 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998 … Continue reading Department of Justice Northern Ireland (Undertakings ): ICO 19 Jun 2014
ECHR Article 10-1 Freedom of expression Injunction against newspaper restraining further publication of article concerning former head of government: violation Facts – The applicant was the limited company Axel Springer AG. Among other activities, it was the publisher of the mass-circulation daily newspaper Bild. The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, in power since 1998, had lost … Continue reading Axel Springer Ag v Germany (No 2): ECHR 10 Jul 2014
The complainant requested access to information on the files relating to another individual, held by the Northumbria Police. Following an investigation of the complaint, the Commissioner has decided that the information requested by the complainant constitutes the personal data of another individual in accordance with Section 1(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998 and consequently, … Continue reading Northumbria Police (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Oct 2006
ICO The complainant made a request for a petition supporting a proposed footpath submitted to Cardiff County Council (‘the Council’) by a local Councillor. This was refused under section 40 of the Act on the grounds that the information requested constituted personal data of which the applicant was not the subject, and that disclosure of … Continue reading Cardiff Council (Decision Notice): ICO 30 Apr 2009
ICO The complainant requested information from Haringey Council (‘the Council’) relating to an investigation carried out by the Councils Monitoring Officer into allegations the complainant had made regarding the Chief Executive of the Council. The Council initially stated that the request was for personal data about the complainant must be treated as a subject access … Continue reading Haringey London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 14 Sep 2009
ICO The complainant requested a copy of a briefing document prepared for a Minister by a DoH official. The DoH initially cited section 14(1), and refused to deal with the request on the grounds that it was vexatious. During the Commissioner’s investigation he found that some of the requested information was, in fact, the complainant’s … Continue reading Department of Health (Decision Notice): ICO 11 Aug 2010
The complainant requested a copy of a report held by St Neots Town Council (‘the Council’) concerning an incident in November 2007 in St Neots involving the Christmas light display. The Council provided a copy of the report with redactions and it also withheld all the appendices to the report. It stated that it wished … Continue reading St Neots Town Council (Decision Notice): ICO 26 Apr 2010
ICO The complainant made a request for information about two police officers serving within Essex Police (the ‘public authority’). The information was withheld under the exemption in section 40(2) (personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the ‘Act’). The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption at section 40(2) is engaged but that disclosure … Continue reading Essex Police (Decision Notice): ICO 1 Feb 2010
ICO The complainant asked the NHS Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority (the ‘SHA’) for information regarding the decision of the Leeds East Research Ethics Committee not to reappointment him to that committee. Of the six questions asked, two were considered under the Data Protection Act 1998 and two have been answered to the … Continue reading NHS Yorkshire and The Humber Strategic Health Authority (Decision Notice): ICO 23 Aug 2011
ICO The complainant requested public documents from the Home Office UK Border Agency relating to the applications for naturalisation of two named individuals. The public authority refused the request on the basis that the requested information constitutes the personal data of the individuals concerned and disclosure would breach the principles set out in the Data … Continue reading Home Office (Decision Notice): ICO 30 Mar 2011
A mother sought to challenge guidelines issued by the respondent which would allow doctors to protect the confidentiality of women under 16 who came to them for assistance even though the sexual activities they might engage in would be unlawful. Held: A person under 16 who was otherwise competent was entitled to seek medical assistance, … Continue reading Axon, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Health and Another: Admn 23 Jan 2006
ICO The complainant requested information concerned with the tendering process for the delivery of marketing workshops from Business Link West Midlands (BLWM) whose freedom of information responsibilities have now been assumed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The Commissioner’s decision is that the majority of the requested information is not held. His … Continue reading Department for Business Innovation and Skills (Decision Notice): ICO 20 Jun 2012
ICO The complainant has requested copies of declaration of interests for senior officers at the council. The council initially withheld the information under section 22 because it stated that it intended to publish the information at some point in the future. On review however it decided that that had only been decided after the request … Continue reading Cheshire West and Chester Council (Decision Notice): ICO 2 Feb 2012
FTTG FOIA s.40 (5) (b) (I) Data Protection Act, 1998 (‘the DPA’) Schedule 1, Part 1 Requests for personal data. [2013] UKFTT EA – 2013 – 0038 (GRC Bailii Freedom of Information Act 2000, Data Protection Act 1998 England and Wales Citing: See Also – Cubells, Regina (on The Application of) v Independent Police Complaints … Continue reading Cubells v Information Commissioner: FTTGRC 2 Dec 2013
Whether information held s.1 FOIA – Personal data s.1(1) DPA Personal data s.40 FOIA [2013] UKFTT EA – 2013 – 0040 (GRC Bailii Freedom of Information Act 2000, Data Protection Act 1998 England and Wales Citing: Cited – Durant v Financial Services Authority CA 8-Dec-2003 The appellant had been unsuccessful in litigation against his former … Continue reading Oates v Information Commissioner: FTTGRC 20 Dec 2013
The complainant has requested information from the ICO which relates to its investigation into a previous case FER0402796. This concerned a complaint made to the ICO relating to a request for information made to the New Forest National Park Authority (the ‘NFNPA’) by the complainant. The ICO refused to disclose the requested information under section … Continue reading Information Commissioner (Decision Notice) FS50483541: ICO 11 Jul 2013
ICO The complainant has requested the ICO to disclose a copy of the briefing notes to Lord Turner, which were supplied to the ICO by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in relation to an earlier complaint the complainant had made to the ICO under section 50 of the FOIA. The ICO responded refusing to disclose … Continue reading Information Commissioners Office (Decision Notice): ICO 6 May 2014
ICO The complainant requested representations provided to Gwynedd Council (‘the Council’) concerning a particular gate and the use of a right of way on which the gate is situated. The Council refused to provide the requested information under regulation 13 of the EIR. The Commissioner has investigated and found that the information is exempt from … Continue reading Gwynedd Council (Decision Notice): ICO 16 Jan 2014
No damages for Loss of Control of Data The respondent has issued a claim alleging that the appellant (‘Google’) has breached its duties as a data controller under the DPA to over 4m Apple iPhone users during a period of some months in 2011- 2012, when Google was able to collect and use their browser … Continue reading Lloyd v Google LLC: SC 10 Nov 2021
Resolution Complaints Panel reports – On 4 July 2013, Mrs Thompson asked for a copy of Resolution Complaints Panel reports prepared by the City of Edinburgh Council (the Council). The Council decided that the information in the reports was entirely excepted from disclosure under the EIRs. During the investigation, the Council disclosed a redacted version … Continue reading Thompson v City of Edinburgh Council: SIC 4 Mar 2014
The complainant has requested information related to the prosecution of a named defendant. The public authority withheld the information citing the exemptions in sections 30(1)(c), 32(1), 40(2) and 42(1) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption in section 40(2) is engaged and that disclosure of the requested information would breach the Data … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service (Decision Notice): ICO 10 Jul 2013
The claimants alleged misuse of their private information in collecting information about their internet useage when using Google products. Google now applied for an order setting aside consent for service out of the jurisdiction. Held: The judge dismissed the applications to set aside permission to serve the claim form out of the jurisdiction in respect … Continue reading Vidal-Hall and Others v Google Inc: QBD 16 Jan 2014
Dismissed [2013] UKFTT EA – 2012 – 0212 (GRC Bailii Data Protection Act 1998 Scotland Information Updated: 26 November 2021; Ref: scu.517952
Dismissed [2013] UKFTT 2013 – 0095 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998 England and Wales Information Updated: 22 November 2021; Ref: scu.516720
Dismissed [2013] UKFTT 2012 – 0212 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998 England and Wales Information Updated: 22 November 2021; Ref: scu.516715
The claimant alleged infringement by the defendant of assorted intellectual property rights in its database. It provided systems for recovering materials deleted from Nokia mobile phones. Held: ‘the present case is concerned with a collection of numerical data . . the individual items of data are not protected by copyright. It follows that the collection … Continue reading Forensic Telecommunications Services Ltd v West Yorkshire Police and Another: ChD 9 Nov 2011
Allowed [2021] UKFTT 2021 – 0037 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998 England and Wales Information Updated: 16 November 2021; Ref: scu.669054
The Directive required member states to exempt from VAT, services involving the provision of insurance, and for intermediaries. Following the Regulator’s involvement, the principal company had to arrange for the checking of existing policies, and the implementation of compensation arrangements, and sub-contracted it to the taxpayer. Had the principal privided the services itself, it would … Continue reading Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Century Life Plc: CA 19 Dec 2000
Privacy Expecation during police investigations Appeal from a judgment finding that the Defendant had breached the Claimant’s privacy rights. He made an award of damages for the infraction of those rights and granted an injunction restraining Bloomberg from publishing information which further identified the Claimant as the subject of a criminal investigation. The court was … Continue reading ZXC v Bloomberg Lp: CA 15 May 2020
Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the 1998 Act: ‘Discriminatory law undermines the rule of law because it is the antithesis of fairness. It brings the law … Continue reading Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza: HL 21 Jun 2004
Commissioner’s Approach not in Breach In May 2010, a Mr Irvine made requests under the 2002 Act for information from South Lanarkshire Council. He wanted to know how many of their employees in a particular post were placed at 10 particular points on the Council’s pay scales. His underlying purpose was to find out whether … Continue reading South Lanarkshire Council v The Scottish Information Commissioner: SC 29 Jul 2013
Misfeasance in Public Office – Recklessness The bank sought to strike out the claim alleging misfeasance in public office in having failed to regulate the failed bank, BCCI. Held: Misfeasance in public office might occur not only when a company officer acted to injure a party, but also where he acted with knowledge of, or … Continue reading Three Rivers District Council and Others v Governor and Company of The Bank of England (No 3): HL 22 Mar 2001
The claimant appealed against the denial of her claim that the defendant had infringed her right to respect for her private life. She was a model who had proclaimed publicly that she did not take drugs, but the defendant had published a story showing a picture of her leaving a drug addiction clinic, along with … Continue reading Campbell v Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd (MGN) (No 1): HL 6 May 2004
Applicants had sought disclosure of information supplied by members of Parliament in support of expenses claims. The Office appealed against an order from the Commissioner to produce that information, saying that the actions of Parliament are not subject to judicial control or review. Held: The appeal was dismissed. The tribunal had made no error of … Continue reading Corporate Officer of the House of Commons v The Information Commissioner and others: Admn 16 May 2008
The principal claimants sold the rights to take photographs of their wedding to a co-claimant magazine (OK). Persons acting on behalf of the defendants took unauthorised photographs which the defendants published. The claimants had retained joint copyright over the photographs and reserved a right to control publication of any particular photographs. In return they made … Continue reading Douglas and others v Hello! Ltd and others (No 3): CA 18 May 2005
Vice-Chancellor was asked to consider whether to strike out a statement of claim based upon alleged misfeasance by a police officer in his public office. The allegation against the police officer was that he had deliberately and falsely supplied details of convictions to the press. The point taken was that it was not concerned with … Continue reading Elliott v Chief Constable of Wiltshire and Others: ChD 20 Nov 1996
The claimant sought judicial review of legislative provisions requiring Internet Service Providers to become involved in regulation of copyright infringements by its subscribers. They asserted that the Act and proposed Order were contrary to European law. Held: The request was refused. No obligation had yet fallen on the claimant, and the exact form and rules … Continue reading British Telecommunications Plc and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills: Admn 20 Apr 2011
The applicant publisher said that the finding against it of breach of confidence and the system of success fees infringed it Article 10 rights to freedom of speech. It had published an article about a model’s attendance at Narcotics anonymous meetings. Held: The finding of a breach of confidence against the applicant amounted to an … Continue reading MGN Limited v United Kingdom: ECHR 18 Jan 2011
The twelve applicants had been unfairly dismissed by the transferor immediately before the transfer, and for a reason connected with the transfer under section 8(1). The question was whether the liability for unfair dismissal compensation transferred to the transferee. Held: It is the duty of a UK court to construe a statute, so far as … Continue reading Litster and Others v Forth Dry Dock and Engineering Co Ltd: HL 16 Mar 1989
Restraint on Interference with Burden of Proof The defendant had been convicted for possessing drugs found on him in a bag when he was arrested. He denied knowing of them. He was convicted having failed to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that he had not known of the drugs. The case was heard before … Continue reading Regina v Lambert: HL 5 Jul 2001
Employer can be liable for Managers Harassment The claimant employee sought damages, saying that he had been bullied by his manager and that bullying amounting to harassment under the 1997 Act. The employer now appealed a finding that it was responsible for a tort committed by a manager, saying that the intention of the Act … Continue reading Majrowski v Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust: HL 12 Jul 2006
The claimant had previously succeeded in a claim of sex discrimination against the University, her former employer. She now appealed against rejection of her claims alleging later victimisation. Held: Two appeals succeed, and those matters remitted to the tribunal for reconsideration: ‘I do not see why not: if the appellant were able to establish that … Continue reading Deer v University of Oxford: CA 6 Feb 2015
The defendant had been arrested under an extradition warrant issued under the Act. The police had searched his premises, and found further evidence which was used to support the application for extradition. He challenged the collection and admission of the evidence which was outside the scope of the 1984 Act. Held: The 1984 Act did … Continue reading Regina v Commissioner of Police for The Metropolis, ex parte Rottman: HL 16 May 2002
(Grand Chamber) The applicants complained that on being arrested on suspicion of offences, samples of their DNA had been taken, but then despite being released without conviction, the samples had retained on the Police database. Held: (Unanimous) The retention was unlawful. Though other member states retained some DNA samples in certain conditions, the UK was … Continue reading Marper v United Kingdom; S v United Kingdom: ECHR 4 Dec 2008
One election candidate said that another had defamed him in an election leaflet. Additional claims were made in injurious falsehood and under the Data Protection Act. Held: The claim in defamation failed. There were no special privileges in defamation attaching to election materials. However the claimant had not been able to establish any malice. The … Continue reading Quinton v Peirce and Another: QBD 30 Apr 2009
An MP had asked the Agency under the 2002 Act for details of all incidents of childhood leukaemia for both sexes by year from 1990 to 2003 for all the DG (Dumfries and Galloway) postal area by census ward. The Agency replied by saying that the release of the information would put at risk the … Continue reading Common Services Agency v Scottish Information Commissioner: HL 9 Jul 2008
Defamation of Labour MP by Unite and Blogger The claimant now a former MP had alleged that a posting on a website supported by the first defendant was false and defamatory. The posting suggested that the claimant had acted dishonestly in applying online for a category of membership of the union. The defendants pursued defences … Continue reading Turley v Unite The Union and Another: QBD 19 Dec 2019
No Damage – No extra jurisdiction Service Application to serve proceedings here – allegation that over some months Google acted in breach its duty under the 1998 Act by secretly tracking the internet activity of Apple iPhone users, collating and using the information it obtained by doing so, and then selling the accumulated data. The … Continue reading Lloyd v Google Llc: QBD 8 Oct 2018
ic_fsa Information rights – Data protection – whether a person’s name constitutes personal data. As the decision of the First-tier Tribunal (made on 16 April 2012 under reference EA/2011/0132) involved the making of an error in point of law, it is SET ASIDE under section 12(2)(a) and (b)(ii) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act … Continue reading The Information Commissioner v The FSA and Edem: UTAA 11 Dec 2012
The Union challenged the right of the respondent to resell tickets to international rugby matches. The tickets were subject to a condition rendering it void on any resale at above face value. They said that the respondent had advertised tickets in breach of this condition. The Court considered whether it was appropriate to protect the … Continue reading The Rugby Football Union v Consolidated Information Services Ltd: SC 21 Nov 2012
The claimant sought disclosure under the 1998 Act by the defendant of records held by them. The respondent said that the information they held did not amount to data under the Act. Held: The information was contained in different formats, on paper, electronically and on CD, but was then brought together in a risk assessment. … Continue reading Johnson v The Medical Defence Union Ltd: ChD 3 Mar 2006
Disclosure of risk of self harm made no claim The claimant complained that the respondent support group had disclosed to his doctor that fact that they had assessed him as being at significant risk of suicide or other substantial self-harm, and that it was at that time unable to provide Mr Scott with the services … Continue reading Scott v LGBT Foundation Ltd: QBD 3 Mar 2020
Anticipating a refusal by H to disclose assets in ancillary relief proceedings, W’s brothers wrongfully accessed H’s computers to gather information. The court was asked whether the rule in Hildebrand remained correct. W appealed against an order restraining her use of the information obtained, saying that ‘the law which protects Mr Imerman’s confidential information and … Continue reading Tchenguiz and Others v Imerman: CA 29 Jul 2010
A newspaper company appealed against an order preventing it naming a footballer who, they claimed, had been unfaithful to his wife. Held: There remains a distinction between the right of privacy which attaches to sexual activities within and outside a marriage. An order restricting the freedom of the press requires positive and clear justification. The … Continue reading A v B plc and Another (Flitcroft v MGN Ltd): CA 11 Mar 2002
The claimant and appellant had been employer and employee who had fallen out, with a settlement in 2005. The appellant then began an unpleasant and obsessive personal vendetta against Mr Hayes, complaining to public bodies with allegations of tax evasion, fraud and similar. Several investigations all concluded against the appellant, and indeed disproved in 2007. … Continue reading Hayes v Willoughby: SC 20 Mar 2013
