Landmark Ruling: Judge Awards Damages in High-Profile Libel Case Involving False Rape Allegations on Twitter
Case Summary
In this high-profile libel case, Yair Cohen acted for Mr Aaronson who is known as Dominic Ford, against Marcus Stones, who is known as Mickey Taylor The case revolved around serious accusations made by Taylor on Twitter and YouTube, alleging that Dominic Ford had committed a sexual assault.
Dominic Ford vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that they were entirely false and motivated by revenge following a disagreement between the two parties on an unrelated issue. Mr Ford argued that the publications had caused significant harm to his reputation and sought damages for the defamation he had suffered.
Both Dominic Ford and Mr Taylor gave evidence in a trial that lasted 5 days in the Royal Court of Justice in London.
Case Outcome
After a thorough examination of the evidence and legal principles surrounding defamation, the judge ruled in favour of Dominic Ford. The judge concluded that Stones had failed to prove that the events that he described in the trial did not fact happen.
The judge also highlighted the importance of responsible journalism and the verification of information before publication, noting that Stones’ belief that publishing the statements was in the public interest was not objectively reasonable.
This outcome serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of spreading false accusations and engaging in personal attacks online. It highlights the importance of ethical behaviour and the potential legal ramifications of defaming someone’s character.
Learn more about the case
MailOnline
Brought to you by Mail Online
The Internet Law Centre
Jack Aaronson Aka Dominic Ford V Marcus Stones Aka Mickey Taylor (internetlawcentre.co.uk)