British Chiropractic Association v Singh [2010] EWCA Civ 350, [2010] All ER (D) 08 (Apr)
Libel—Fair comment—Comment or fact
British Chiropractic Association v Singh [2010] EWCA Civ 350, [2010] All ER (D) 08 (Apr)
Court of Appeal, Civil Division, Lord Judge CJ, Lord Neuberger MR, Sedley LJ, 1 Apr 2010
The Court of Appeal has clarified the approach to be taken to determining whether statements about scientific knowledge constitute expressions of opinion rather than fact, in the context of libel law.
Heather Rogers QC (instructed by Collyer Bristow) for the claimant. Adrienne Page QC and William McCormick (instructed by Bryan Cave Solicitors) for the defendant.
The claimant was a company limited by guarantee, which had as its objects the promotion and maintenance of standards for chiropractors. It issued proceedings for libel, contending that it had been defamed by the defendant, a scientist and author who in 2008 published an article in the Guardian newspaper stating that the claimant “claims that their members can help treat children with colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying, even though there is not a jot
