Actually an expensive one, which is why it's so easy for the rich to do and so hard for the non-rich to defend.Hence the Libel reform campaign.
URL REMOVED
Other groups are involved, but Sense about Science is a charity that may appeal to most Brits on the forum. A fiver a month won't kill and a couple of hundred of those can achieve a lot.
It's quite easy for someone spiteful to issue libel proceedings too with little cost if they choose to represent themselves but still incur massive, and often unaffordable costs, for the defendants.
Quite often people who issue these proceedings in this way cannot afford to pay any cost orders made against them should the defendants take the logical step of sourcing legal assistance. Even then, if defendants represent themselves they still need to attend London for one or two hearings (minimum) which causes disruption, cost, inconvenience etc.
It cost, for the two day hearing in November, around £450 in total. Right before xmas which was even worse. Then add in the months and months of correspondence going back and forth, printing costs, postage.
It is the time more than anything; it is constantly in your mind. The amount of damage that it causes is often, I submit, disproportionate to the vindication that is being sought from a plaintiff.
Not only that, but as a defendant you can get libelled yourself in the most disgusting ways imaginable without recourse. It's a very shoddy state of affairs that this sort of case can cause this much hassle.
