Patterson-James Percival v Cliff Hughes and Nationwide News Network Limited

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OF JAMAICA
IN CIVIL DIVISION
CLAIM NO. 2010 HCV002214
BETWEEN PERCIVAL JAMES PATTERSON CLAIMANT
A N D CLIFF HUGHES 1st DEFENDANT
A N D NATIONWIDE NEWS NETWORK LTD. 2nd DEFENDANT
Mr. K.D. Knight Q.C., Mr. Bert Samuels, Mr. Matthieu Beckford and Ms. Stacy Knight instructed by Messrs. Knight, Junor & Samuels for the Claimant.
Lord Anthony Gifford Q.C., and Miss Anika Gray instructed by Gifford, Thompson and Bright for the defendants.
November 26, 27, 28, 29, 2013, May 9, and October 30, 2014.
Defamation- Damages sought for libel - whether words defamatory – qualified privilege –Reynolds privilege.
P.A. Williams. J.
The Background
1. On the 15th day of May 2009, listeners to the radio station Nationwide News Network Ltd. “NNN”; the 2nd defendant; awoke to what was described as “Breaking News”. The item of news was delivered by Mr. Cliff Hughes, the 1st defendant and the managing director of “NNN”, along with Miss Emily Crooks, the then host and managing producer of the morning news and current affairs programme named “This Morning.”