Libel & slander

The claimant issued proceedings against the defendant for slander and libel for words spoken and subsequently broadcast on the BBC and ITV, and an eBook she published. The Queen’s Bench Division, in dismissing the claim, held that the claim concerning the BBC was time-barred and the defendant was not a co-publisher. Although the claim as to ITV was actionable without proof of special loss, the defendant’s account had been true. With respect to the eBook, justification had been established, although the claimant had not been identified and the claim was an abuse of process.