It is the end of the year and this is a brief, scheduled post to set out the current state of play in the court proceedings I am, or have been, a party to in Hemming v Poulton and Smith v My Media World and Butt. This is partly to counter-balance Sonia Poulton’s misleading comments about it.
Smith v My Media World Limited and Butt – (near) total victory. I sued Muhammad Butt and My Media World Limited for libel and under the data protection act. They counter-sued for libel and harassment. The counter-claim was dropped, meaning all my articles stayed up and Muhammad ate his costs of the counter-claim and paid mine. In my case, it was settled by My Media World Limited and Muhammad Butt agreeing to a permanent, lifelong restraining (Tomlin) order. Some costs were paid to Muhammad by a wealthy backer, but overall far less than he paid out. This case is notable because I represented myself in all of the cases and did my own paperwork, except in this case for one hearing I instructed David Hirst of 5RB Media Chambers, and also used advice from Matthew Hodson of Gatehouse Chambers. Very happy with both barristers.
During the period of this case, My Media World’s Brand New Tube website (brandnewtube.com) was hacked again. This is notable because some of my coverage of their firm was allegedly defamatory or harassing. My Media World and Butt’s counterclaim was dropped however, meaning my articles stay up. Muhammad’s odd video about it is worth watching for comedy value. It is a shame because Brand New Tube is a good idea but the execution is poor and attempts at constructive criticism have received a hostile response.
Smith v Baker – Total victory. I sued Esther Baker and defended a counter-claim, representing myself. Her defence was largely struck out and she agreed to a lifelong restraining order. Baker counter-sued for libel and harassment. Her counterclaim was struck out and summarily judged in my favour because she failed to Reply to my defence of truth. My articles stay up. She is paying my costs back in instalments. It will take her a very long time.
Hemming v Poulton, Smith and Laverty – John Hemming is suing Sonia Poulton for libel and breach of the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Sonia has counter-sued Hemming myself and Darren Laverty for harassment. Darren counter-counterclaimed for libel. So far, Sonia has settled with Darren and had a small part of her Particulars struck out.
Bizarrely, Sonia has claimed on her fundraising page and on Twitter that in the proceedings the court has accepted that she is a journalist against opposition by John Hemming at a hearing on 14 July 2022. No such decision was made because it is not in issue. The court order, which is public, simply adjourns the hearing and the judge remarks it is due to Poulton raising further matters the night before. We are seeking our costs of the hearing thrown away in all circumstances.