Firm News

Mishcon de Reya in significant win against BNP member Sidney Chaney

Release Date:

20 March 2007

Mishcon de Reya has acted for anti-fascist research organisation, Searchlight after prominent BNP member Sidney Chaney brought a defamation claim against the client.  Last week, (15 March 2007) Chaney's defamation claim was struck out of Court for abuse of the Court's process and because he did not comply with the costs orders against him.

In June 2004 Sidney Chaney stood as a BNP candidate in Essex. Searchlight Information Services Limited - a research organisation, which provides information about the activities of individuals, and institutions, which are fascist in character - published a leaflet about Chaney for the local constituents.

Chaney brought a defamation claim against Searchlight, its director Gerry Gable and company secretary Sonia Gable.  The Court rejected Chaney's claim against Sonia Gable and ordered him to pay her costs of nearly £20,000 plus further costs of nearly £3,000 to Searchlight and Gerry Gable.

At a Court hearing on 10 November 2006 the trial was adjourned pending Chaney's compliance with these costs orders, which Chaney was ordered to comply with by 31 December 2006.

Chaney had been ordered to pay Searchlight's costs for the hearing of 15 March 2007 and Searchlight had the liberty to apply for judgement of their costs for the entire claim.  Chaney has been refused permission to appeal in the High Court and his only recourse is to seek leave from the Court of Appeal.

James Libson, Head of Litigation at Mishcon de Reya said:

“This is a significant win for Searchlight for whom Mishcon is proud to act.  My partners and I will be donating any costs received to an appropriate charity.”