Examination of Witnesses (Question Numbers
60-64)
MR NICK
ARMSTRONG, MR
TONY JAFFA,
MR KEITH
MATHIESON AND
MR MARCUS
PARTINGTON
24 FEBRUARY 2009
Q60 Chairman: Do you think if that
legislation does pass through Congress that is going to do significant
damage to the reputation of British courts?
Mr Partington: To be honest, I
think that damage has already started happening. I think the fact
that the steps have already been taken in America, and are being
taken, has already created that damage.
Mr Jaffa: If you read the press
releases that accompany the bill that is before Congress now,
and if you read the memorandum that accompanied the New York Act
from the Governor, you can see what they think of our laws; and
it is not very pleasant to see that we are described in those
terms. I have no personal experience of this, so this is just
a general observation; but I find it really very distressing that
they should think of our laws as terrorism. Just think what that
implies. If I were a parliamentarian I would be absolutely shocked
to think that the United States regards our law in that light.
Q61 Chairman: I think it came about
as the result of a specific case.
Mr Jaffa: The New York one did,
yes.
Q62 Paul Farrelly: Just for the record,
Chairman, the Reuters case you referred to against a tennis player,
for the record could you name the tennis player?
Mr Mathieson: Yes, Robert Dean.
Q63 Paul Farrelly: Which nationality?
Mr Mathieson: British.
Q64 Paul Farrelly: He was a British
tennis player; publication happened here?
Mr Mathieson: Yes, he is a British
player who actually plays most of his tennis in Spain, as it happens.
He is a British national, yes. I am not suggesting in any sense
that he was guilty of libel tourism. It was a Reuters' publication
in this jurisdiction.
Chairman: Could I thank the four of you
very much.
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