An offer you can’t refuse?

05 July 2024 / Colin Campbell

Issue: 8078 / Categories: Opinion , Costs , Privacy

Hugh Grant’s decision to settle his action for misuse of private information against NGN has shone a spotlight on the debatable fairness of CPR, Pt 36, says Colin Campbell

Mechanisms built into the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (CPR) which encourage most cases to settle before reaching trial, are rarely a talking point outside the legal profession. In April, however, the actor Hugh Grant drew attention to the ‘rules around civil litigation’ in a lengthy thread posted on the social media platform X, relating to his own case against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the owners of The Sun. By implying that these very rules effectively forced him to settle his case, much against his wishes, Grant has pushed the specific role played by CPR, Pt 36 in civil proceedings to the fore. If someone with his global fame and considerable resources says he is unable to continue his case because of a rule hitherto little known outside legal circles, people sit up and take notice.

Hugh Grant’s interpretation

It is

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content

If you are already a subscriber sign in

...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

An offer you can’t refuse?

Hugh Grant’s decision to settle his action for misuse of private information against NGN has shone a spotlight on the debatable fairness of CPR, Pt 36, says Colin Campbell

Hugh Grant’s interpretation

It is

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content

If you are already a subscriber sign in

...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

SourceURL:

Links:

E-newsletter Sign-Up

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All

Gilson Gray—Linda Pope

Partner joins family law team inLondon

Jackson Lees Group—five promotions

Private client division announces five new partners

Taylor Wessing—Max Millington

Banking and finance team welcomes partner in London

NEWS

Read All

NLJ this week: Motor commissions & fiduciary duties

The landmark Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd—along with Rukhadze v Recovery Partners—redefine fiduciary duties in commercial fraud. Writing in NLJ this week, Mary Young of Kingsley Napley analyses the implications of the rulings

NLJ this week: The power of Interpol red notices

Barristers Ben Keith of 5 St Andrew’s Hill and Rhys Davies of Temple Garden Chambers use the arrest of Simon Leviev—the so-called Tinder Swindler—to explore the realities of Interpol red notices, in this week's NLJ

NLJ this week: Approach with caution post-Mazur

Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] has upended assumptions about who may conduct litigation, warn Kevin Latham and Fraser Barnstaple of Kings Chambers in this week's NLJ. But is it as catastrophic as first feared?

Philip Sales is selected as next Deputy President

Lord Sales has been appointed to become the Deputy President of the Supreme Court after Lord Hodge retires at the end of the year

Tax shock ahead for partners?

Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are reportedly in the firing line in Chancellor Rachel Reeves upcoming Autumn budget

Error message

An offer you can’t refuse?

Hugh Grant’s interpretation

Hugh Grant’s interpretation

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gilson Gray—Linda Pope

Jackson Lees Group—five promotions

Taylor Wessing—Max Millington