Draconian budget sanction

Mitchell v News Group Newspapers [2013] EWHC 2355 (QB); NLJ 20 September; Litigation Funding October

Former Cabinet Minister Andrew Mitchell, MP sued for damages for defamation over the coverage of the “Plebgate” incident in The Sun. The case began under the pre-1 April defamation costs management pilot, but in the ruling the master applied the new r3.9 on relief from sanctions and the revised overriding objective.