[2002] EWCA Civ 1087

When giving case management directions in a libel action, the judge had been correct not to order a trial of preliminary issues due to the complexity of the defences raised and the likelihood of delaying trial, and had been correct in not allowing the defendants to introduce similar fact evidence due to it potentially distracting the jury from the central issues in the case.

CA (Civ Div) (Brooke LJ, Dyson LJ, Wall J)

24/07/2002