QB-2022-001397 - [2025] EWHC 2193 (KB)

Mr Clarke issued a protective claim on the final day of the limitation period, 29 April 2022. On 12 August 2022, his former solicitors, JMW Solicitors LLP, sent a letter before claim, putting the Guardian on notice of the libel and data protection claims he intended to bring. On 26 August 2022, the Claimant served the Guardian with the claim form (as amended the day before to remove the second to twelfth defendants, and to add a data protection claim) and Particulars of Claim. The Claimant re-amended the claim form, pursuant to the Order of Master Thornett dated 26 February 2023, to remove the £10,000 cap on the value of the damages claimed.

There was a meaning trial on 1 November 2023, following which Johnson J handed down the judgment to which I have referred, and made an order determining the meanings of the Articles as set out above.

The Claimant filed Amended Particulars of Claim on 15 November 2023. The Defence and Reply were filed on 10 January 2024 and 3 April 2024, respectively. The Amended Defence and Amended Reply were filed on 3 May 2024 and 17 May 2024, respectively. The Amended Reply was re-amended and filed on 7 March 2025 (see para ‎39 below).

Case management hearings took place before Master Thornett on 23 May and 4 July 2024, and a costs management hearing took place before Master Brown on 15 July 2024. On 11 June 2024, the trial was listed to begin on 3 March 2025 (with two reading days), with a time estimate of six weeks.