Ronaldo v Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd: QBD 14 Oct 2009

The claimant issued defamation proceedings against two newspapers. The court considered the meanings complained of in each case, and whether the cases should be tried together. He was on leave for injury and was said to have been attempting to dance in a night club, and drinking to excess. Both defendants pleaded justification. The second defendant newspaper said that the meanings of its own article was different and that it would be prejudiced by a joint hearing. The witnesses were almost identical.
Held: there was a risk of prejudice to the second newspaper and the trials should be split.

Judges:

Sharp J

Citations:

[2009] EWHC 2862 (QB)

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Defamation Act 1952 12

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Defamation

Updated: 22 August 2022; Ref: scu.380360