The Lady Anne Tennant v Associated Newspapers Ltd: ChD 1979

Sir Robert Megarry V-C criticised an approach to litigation which amounted to: ‘ A desire to investigate alleged obscurities and a hope that something will turn up on the investigation cannot, separately or together, amount to sufficient reason for refusing to enter judgment for the plaintiff. You do not get leave to defend by putting forward a case that is all surmise and Micawberism.’

Judges:

Sir Robert Megarry V-C

Citations:

[1979] FSR 298

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

CitedHRH The Duchess of Sussex v Associated Newspapers Ltd ChD 11-Feb-2021
Defence had no prospect of success – Struck Out
The claimant complained that the defendant newspaper had published contents from a letter she had sent to her father. The court now considered her claims in breach of privacy and copyright, and her request for summary judgment.
Held: Warby J . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Litigation Practice

Updated: 24 July 2022; Ref: scu.658105