Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Defence definition

What does Defence mean? In civil litigation, a defence is the defendant’s formal pleading that answers the claim and sets out the material facts and legal grounds relied on. It shapes the issues for disclosure, evidence and trial, and must be filed within the time limits set by court rules; failure may lead to default judgment (or decree). In England and Wales, under the Civil Procedure Rules, the defence is a statement of case responding to the particulars of claim. It should specify which allegations are admitted, denied or not admitted, explain any denial, and plead defences such as limitation or set-off....

Defamation Defence Precedent (England and Wales): King’s Bench Division, Media and Communications List—pleading with truth, honest opinion, public interest and qualified privilege; serious harm, mitigation and injunctive relief

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Precedents

claim No.: HQ [ insert claim number ]

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE KING'S BENCH DIVISION ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS LIST

Parties: (1) [ Insert full name of claimant/first claimant ] (2) [ [ Insert full name of second claimant ] ] [ Claimant OR Claimants ] and [ Insert full name of defendant ] Defendant

defence

The Defendant admits paragraph 1 of the Particulars of Claim. It is asserted that [ add facts and matters about the claimant(s) relevant to defence ]
Paragraphs 2 and 3 are accepted.
The Defendant accepts having published an article called '[ insert title of article or heading or description of publication ]' on [ insert date ] at [ insert URL of website in cases of publication online ], which contained the words complained of as identified at paragraph 7 of the Particulars of Claim (the Article).
As alleged at paragraph 5 of the Particulars of Claim, it is further admitted that the Article remains available and accessible online at www.[ URL ]...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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