Yes! Simon Singh (who's a great guy who I've met) has had some good news in his high profile, rightful court case against the horrid British Chiropractic Association.
This thing looked to go on for years and was set to be a classic example of why the british libel system is fucked, because one word (in this case Singh calling certain chiropractic claims "bogus") can leave you in court having to prove that you didn't intend to cause damage or even having to prove your point in its totaliy (i.e. not like in the USA etc where the burden is on the 'victim' of the comment).
It's breaking news on BBC Online:
Page last updated at 09:32 GMT, Thursday, 1 April 2010 10:32 UK
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Science writer Simon Singh wins libel appeal
breaking news
A science writer has won the right in the Appeal Court to rely on the defence of fair comment in a libel action.
Simon Singh was accused of libel by the British Chiropractic Association over an article in the Guardian in 2008.
Mr Singh questioned the claims of some chiropractors over the treatment of certain childhood conditions.
High Court judge Mr Justice Eady said last May the comments were factual not opinion - meaning Mr Singh could not use the defence of fair comment.
However, the Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger and Lord Justice Sedley ruled the High Court judge had "erred in his approach" and allowed Mr Singh's appeal.
Mr Singh described the ruling as "brilliant".
He said: "It is extraordinary this action has cost 200,000 to establish the meaning of a few words."
In the article in April 2008, Mr Singh suggested there was a lack of evidence for the claims over conditions such as colic and asthma.
The British Chiropractic Association alleged that Mr Singh had effectively accused its leaders of knowingly supporting bogus treatments.
This thing looked to go on for years and was set to be a classic example of why the british libel system is fucked, because one word (in this case Singh calling certain chiropractic claims "bogus") can leave you in court having to prove that you didn't intend to cause damage or even having to prove your point in its totaliy (i.e. not like in the USA etc where the burden is on the 'victim' of the comment).
It's breaking news on BBC Online:
Page last updated at 09:32 GMT, Thursday, 1 April 2010 10:32 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Science writer Simon Singh wins libel appeal
breaking news
A science writer has won the right in the Appeal Court to rely on the defence of fair comment in a libel action.
Simon Singh was accused of libel by the British Chiropractic Association over an article in the Guardian in 2008.
Mr Singh questioned the claims of some chiropractors over the treatment of certain childhood conditions.
High Court judge Mr Justice Eady said last May the comments were factual not opinion - meaning Mr Singh could not use the defence of fair comment.
However, the Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger and Lord Justice Sedley ruled the High Court judge had "erred in his approach" and allowed Mr Singh's appeal.
Mr Singh described the ruling as "brilliant".
He said: "It is extraordinary this action has cost 200,000 to establish the meaning of a few words."
In the article in April 2008, Mr Singh suggested there was a lack of evidence for the claims over conditions such as colic and asthma.
The British Chiropractic Association alleged that Mr Singh had effectively accused its leaders of knowingly supporting bogus treatments.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
androgyne:
To be honest, I do normally score ridiculously high on narcissism type tests, although I'm not a nympho according to these studies, so I'm not sure. I've always just felt I was better and more advanced than people. Some people are just stupid. Others are book smart, and can remember lots. Some can read books and compare them. But it's very rare for people to read lots of info, store it, and then project it in 4 dimensional thinking. It's basically how my mind works, so why wouldn't I think it's better than 3D smarts? It's like comparing a super computer to an atari, only a donk would think the atari is more advanced.
clio:
you're fucking up. time to start listening to some Type O.