Firm News

Mishcons leads The Saints to major libel victory

Release Date:

28 October 2005

Mishcon de Reya yesterday led Southampton Football Club chairman Rupert Lowe to a £250,000 libel damages victory over a newspaper claim that he behaved "shabbily" in suspending manager Dave Jones in the wake of child abuse allegations.

Mr Lowe sued over an August 2004 column by Times writer Martin Samuel in which he wrote that he had "shabbily handled" the situation when the board decided, in January 2000, to suspend Mr Jones for 12 months on full pay so he could concentrate on defending the case.

It took a High Court jury three hours to reach its unanimous verdict after an eight-day case before Mr Justice Eady in London.

The judge ordered the newspaper to pay Mr Lowe's costs, which were given in court as £225,000, with an interim payment of £112,500 within 14 days. It will also have to meet its own costs. The judge granted the newspaper permission to appeal on the amount of damages and ordered £50,000 to be paid forthwith with a stay on damages above that amount pending any appeal.

The jury's award is one of the highest to be given to an individual in recent years.

Representing Rupert Lowe was Mishcon de Reya’s Media and Public Advocacy Group led by Simon Gallant and assisted by Laura Tyler

Commenting the victory, Simon Gallant said:

“We never wanted to go to Court and tried to settle this case from day one. The decision of the Jury has not only vindicated our clients’ reputation but will send a loud and clear message to all newspapers that they cannot hide behind the cloak of fair comment whilst being cavalier with the facts.

Media Contact: Jo Rosenblatt on 020 7788 4100 or 07703 534 007