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United Kingdom

Slander damages and serious harm: Dhir v Saddler—quality over quantity of publishees, grapevine effect, actionable per se (threat to kill), mitigation and defendant conduct, Jameel threshold (England and Wales)

Published on: 13 December 2017

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Dhir v Saddler [2017] EWHC 3155 (QB)

What are the practical implications of this case?

This uncommon ruling on a slander claim offers useful direction to practitioners on how the law will be applied in such matters. Crucially, when deciding whether serious reputational harm has been caused, it is not a numbers game—the emphasis is on the calibre, not the volume, of those to whom the words were communicated. As to damages, the judgment clarifies that where a defamatory allegation is found to be untrue, the level of compensation should reflect that conclusion. Evidence about the claimant may reduce damages, provided it is linked to the subject of the defamatory imputation. Here, the pertinent material related to the claimant’s inclination to behave (or threaten to behave) violently, aligning with the nature of the allegation. The defendant’s conduct is also relevant to the assessment of damages, particularly where a false case is maintained.

What was this case about?

This case concerned words spoken at a church meeting convened to...

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