News

Gemma Arterton secures damages (and costs)  for her privacy complaints, against the Daily Mail, The Daily Star and The Mirror.

Keeley Hawes instructs Atkins Thomson on various matters

Alan Donnelly secures an apology for an article published on pitpass.com. See the apology here.

Jude Law - Injunction

Mark Thomson has released the following statement:

“As has already been reported last week, my client Jude Law issued proceedings against Blake Publishing and Sadie Frost, as he was concerned about certain passages in Ms Frost's forthcoming autobiography as well as the proposed publication of photographs of his children.

The parties have now agreed terms and today a permanent injunction by consent was granted by Mr Justice Tugendhat in the High Court.

Mr Law is pleased that the parties have been able to resolve this speedily; he has been able to protect his and his children's privacy and Ms Frost is able to proceed with her latest project." 

Sir Martin Sorrell and WPP

Sir Martin Sorrell and WPP have today secured an apology in the Economic Times of India in respect of an article published in the Economic Times on 21st April of this year arising out of an interview with Richard Pinder CEO of Publicis Conseil.

The Economic Times have published the letter of apology from Richard Pinder and have also apologised themselves  in the following terms:

“In the light of Mr. Pinder's letter published above, we agree that any possible interpretation that statements made by Mr. Pinder in our article dated 21st April 2010, suggest that Sir Martin Sorrell and WPP publicly announced the firing of specified employees before notifying the individuals concerned to ensure Sir Martin's bonus, is not correct or intended.  We apologise for any distress caused to Sir Martin Sorrell and WPP for having published remarks from Pinder."

The full letter and apology is linked here.

WPP and Sir Martin are represented by Mark Thomson and Nicola McCann of Atkins Thomson.

OK! apologises to Sienna Miller following publication of a purported interview. The magazine also agreed to pay her damages and legal fees. See the apology here

Jude Law settles privacy complaint against Hello! Magazine.

In January, the magazine published photographs of Jude Law with his children on a beach in the Caribbean. 

Following negotiations Hello! agreed not to re-publish the photographs complained of, nor any photographs of Jude Law in circumstances in which he has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Hello! have also agreed not to publish any photographs of Jude Law together with his children (until they reach the age of eighteen) photographed in circumstances in which they have a reasonable expectation of privacy; including (without limitation) in the following specific situations; at public or private beaches, private sporting events/activities, school events, at or near school or at public or private parks. 

Hello! magazine have also agreed to pay Mr Law damages of £9,500 and his legal costs in this matter.

See The Guardian report here

Nancy Jones, Keith Floyd's eldest daughter, obtains an apology from The Sun, following successful settlement of her legal claim. The newspaper has also agreed to pay substantial damages and her legal fees. The apology can be seen here.

Atkins Thomson instructed by Jude Law on various matters.

Ed Buxton wins his libel action against Now magazine.In settlement Now has apologised and agreed to pay damages and legal costs. The apology can be seen here.

This is in addition to successful claims against The Sunday Mirror, the Daily Mail and The Sun.

Martyn Smith settles his libel claim against the Press Association in respect of an article it released on 21 December 2009. Martyn accepts damages of £50,000 and his legal fees. The Press Association has already released an apology. Download the Statement in Open Court setting out the details here. See the Guardian’s report of the settlement here.

Atkins Thomson issues proceedings in the High Court, on behalf of Cherie Blair, against Associated Newspapers Ltd. The claim is for libel in respect of an article published in The Daily Mail on 26 November 2009 entitled “Outrage as Mandy goes on a country shoot with Gaddafi son (And, surprise, Cherie came too)”.

Ed Buxton settles his libel claim against the Daily Mail in respect of an article published on 18 July 2009. Associated Newspapers are paying Ed damages and his legal costs and have published an apology. The apology can be seen here.

Dragon's Den producer Martyn Smith has obtained immediate apologies from a number of newspapers in relation to defamatory articles appearing throughout the press and internet wrongly identifying him as having been found guilty of downloading child pornography.

The defamatory statement originally came about from an incorrect press release from the Press Association. Newspapers that have apologised include The Mirror, The Times, The Telegraph, Daily Mail and the Press Association. See the Telegraph's report of the Press Association's apology here.

Mark Thomson and Nicola McCann have their article "Harassment and the Media" published in The Journal of Media Law, Volume 1 Issue 2, 2009 (Published by Hart Publishing).

In the article they consider the application and impact of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (“the Act”) and analyse the extent that the Act can be used by individuals to protect their right to respect for a private life. They also consider aspects of prepublication harassment by the media, photographs of private events and whether, and to what extent, the Act fills the remaining gaps in the patch-work system of remedies for the redress of infringements of the right to a private life..  

Following settlement of Lily Allen’s claim against The Sun (see 23 September) Mark Thomson reads the Statement in Open Court on her behalf. Download the Statement here.

Atkins Thomson obtain a correction for WPP from Reuters following erroneous report of an interview with its Chairman Sir Martin Sorrell. See the correction here.

January 2009