Campbell v Safra, Court of Appeal - Queen's Bench Division, April 12, 2006, [2006] EWHC 819 (QB)

Reporting Judge: [2006] EWHC 819 (QB)

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Campbell v Safra, Court of Appeal - Queen's Bench Division, April 12, 2006, [2006] EWHC 819 (QB)

Case No: H005X031 06

Neutral Citation Number: [2006] EWHC 819 (QB)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION

Royal Courts of Justice

Strand, London, WC2A 2LL

Date: 12th April 2006

B e f o r e :

THE HON. MR JUSTICE EADY

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Between:

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Jonathan Crystal (instructed by Stock Fraser Cukier) for the Claimant Richard Rampton QC and Heather Rogers (instructed by Mishcon de Reya) for the Defendant

Hearing date: 28th March 2006

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JUDGMENTThe HOD. Mr Justice Eady:

1. This is an unusual case in a number of respects. The Claimant is Lady Colin Campbell, who describes herself as a "critically acclaimed authoress". The Defendant is Lily Safra, who is described by the Claimant as a "socialite" and by herself as "philanthropist". She resides in Monaco.

2. The claim is based upon two causes of action, libel and inducement to breach of contract, both of which the Defendant submits are without merit. I am asked to strike them out or to give summary judgment in her favour. Evidence has been served on both sides.

3. In June 2005 the Claimant's novel, entitled Empress Bianca was published by Arcadia Books Ltd ("Arcadia"). The relevant publishing contract was dated 4 March 2004. According to the Defendant's evidence, she only became aware of the book after a telephone conversation had taken place between a Sunday Telegraph journalist called Charlotte Edwardes and her public relations consultant, Mr Mark Bolland. Mr Bolland has said in evidence that this took place during the late afternoon of Friday, 1 July, when he was standing in a railway station on the way to a dinner appointment in Oxfordshire.

4. According to this evidence, Ms Edwardes raised the subject of the Claimant's book (describing her as "Georgie Campbell") and said that she had heard that Mrs Safra was discussing with...

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