Defamation

Miller v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2005] EWHC 773 (QB); LSG 5 January

The claimant was a police officer who alleged that he had been defamed in the Daily Mail and Evening Standard by suggestions that his handling of the investigation of two cases of alleged sexual assault and rape, including that against Mr and Mrs Neil Hamilton, had been grossly incompetent. The defendant paid £10,000 into court, which was not accepted. The defendant’s costs were in the region of £600,000, while the claimant’s costs under a CFA agreement reached approximately £3m, including £600,000 ATE payable to the Police Federation if the claimant had won. The claimant lost. Considerations on the question of costs included: