Jameel v. Wall Street Journal Europe Sprl

4 All E.R. 1279 (2006)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Jameel (P) is a prominent businessman and president of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comprising numerous companies and with interests in cars, shipping, property and distribution of electronic goods. Wall Street (D) published the article headed 'Saudi Officials Monitor Certain Bank Accounts' with a smaller sub-heading 'Focus Is on Those With Potential Terrorist Ties.' It stated that the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority was, at the request of US law enforcement agencies, monitoring bank accounts associated with some of the country's most prominent businessmen in a bid to prevent them from being used, wittingly or unwittingly, for the funneling of funds to terrorist organizations. A number of companies and individuals were named, among them 'the Abdullatif Jamil Group of companies' who, it was stated later in the article, 'couldn't be reached for comment.' P sued for libel, and the jury found that the article referred to was defamatory To Ps. Ps were awarded £30,000 and £10,000 respectively. Ds appealed, and the court of appeals upheld the decision.