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

The pre-trial review (‘PTR’) took place before me on 20 January 2025. I ordered that the trial listed to begin on 3 March 2025 would only determine issues of liability against the Guardian on the currently pleaded claim. I adjourned the Claimant’s application to join six new defendants, to plead a new cause of action in unlawful means conspiracy against the Guardian and the proposed new defendants, and to increase the special damages claim from about £10 million to over £70 million, until a date to be fixed following the trial of the Guardian’s liability in respect of the libel and data protection claims (Footnote: ¹): Clarke v Guardian [2025] EWHC 142 (KB). The Court of Appeal dismissed the Claimant’s appeal against that order on 21 February 2025: [2025] EWCA Civ 164.

I granted the Guardian’s application for special measures in respect of three witnesses, namely screening of Gina Powell and Naome Morris, and permission for ‘Penelope’ to give evidence via a video link. I made the RRO to which I have referred. I refused Mr Clarke’s application for a long extension of time to produce the trial bundles, and I rejected the Guardian’s application for responsibility for producing the trial bundles to be transferred from the Claimant to the Defendant.