Madeleine McCann’s parents lose court case against Portugal detective

The parents of Madeleine McCann have lost their European court of human rights (ECHR) challenge to the Portuguese supreme court’s decision to dismiss their libel case against Gonçalo Amaral, former detective who implicated them in their daughter’s disappearance.   In 2015, a Lisbon court ordered Amaral, to pay €500,000 to Madeleine’s parents. But an appeal court overturned the decision in…

What is Defamation?

What is the process of resolving a defamation matter? There are several ways you can attempt to resolve a defamation matter, including the following: Sending a cease and desist letter The first attempt of having a defamatory statement removed, so it no longer causes any problems is by issuing what is known as a cease…

Patrick Reed files $750m defamation suit against Golf Channel pundit

The 2018 Masters champion and US Ryder Cup golfer Patrick Reed has filed a $750m defamation lawsuit against American television network The Golf Channel and its commentator Brandel Chamblee. The lawsuit states that Chamblee and the Golf Channel have been “actively targeting Reed since he was 23 years old, to destroy his reputation, create hate…

Jury in the USA rules against Amber heard in defamation suit brought by Johnny Depp

Jury in the USA rules against Amber heard in defamation suit brought by Johnny Depp

Last week, a jury in the USA ruled against Amber Heard in a defamation suit brought on by Johnny Depp for an article she wrote in The Washington Post about domestic abuse. Depp claimed Heard had defamed him when she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse”. The jury awarded Depp damages of a total of…

Victim of paedophile football coach Barry Bennell, secures settlement

David Lean, a victim of paedophile and former Crewe Alexandra coach Barry Bennell has secured a five-figure settlement from the previous owners of Butlin’s after Bennell groomed him while working at a holiday park in Wales in 1979. A civil case was brought by Lean against Hard Rock Cafe (Edinburgh) Limited, formerly known as Butlin’s…

Johnny Depp handed small victory in US Court as part of his defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard

Johnny Depp handed small victory in US Court as part of his defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard

Johnny Depp was recently handed a small victory in a US Court as part of his $50m defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Heard had petitioned to have the suit dismissed after the High Court in London ruled in favour of The Sun, in a libel trial with Depp over The Sun’s description of Depp…