He has won his court battle. Slowly, England’s libel laws become more sane.
The science writer Simon Singh has won his court of appeal battle for the right to rely on the defence of fair comment in a libel action.
Singh was accused of libel by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) over an opinion piece he wrote in the Guardian in April 2008.
He suggested there was a lack of evidence for the claims some chiropractors make on treating certain childhood conditions including colic and asthma.
The BCA alleged that Singh had in effect accused its leaders of knowingly supporting bogus treatments.
In May last year, high court judge Mr Justice Eady, in a preliminary ruling in the dispute, held that Singh’s comments were factual assertions rather than expressions of opinion – which meant he could not use the defence of fair comment.
Today, the lord chief justice, Lord Judge, master of the rolls Lord Neuberger and Lord Justice Sedley allowed Singh’s appeal, ruling that the high court judge had “erred in his approach”….
April 1st, 2010 at 7:37AM
UK science wonk Simon Singh’s
Victory brings many good things.
Not least in the heap,
Libel lawyers shall weep
From precipitous drop in cha-chings.
April 1st, 2010 at 9:20AM
Alas, Dave, I don’t think it will;
Libel lawyers still sup the same swill.
This is just one case
In a very long race
The burden of proof’s the same still.
April 1st, 2010 at 10:09AM
Burden of proof still outweighs other factors
But beating the poor chiropractors
Makes things far less barbaric,
I still believe, Eric.
Think twice before suing detractors!
April 1st, 2010 at 9:49PM
This reader opened the comments and saw
Limerickal talent that made him guffaw
He said “Thanks for laughter!” —
At least, that is, after
He un-dislocated his jaw!