Overview
- Mrs Justice Collins Rice struck out key pleadings and granted summary judgment for Neidle, finding the claim had no real prospect of success.
- She declared the action a statutory SLAPP under section 195 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, citing intent to cause extraordinary inconvenience.
- The court criticised Kamal’s conduct, including AI‑generated fake case citations, an on‑notice injunction application made without notice, and a “spectacularly inflated” £8m damages claim later undermined by late‑disclosed contract terms.
- Neidle said defending the case took six months, about £146,000 and an 85‑page judgment, highlighting the chilling effect of libel procedure on journalism.
- Free‑speech advocates urged broader reforms as ministers reportedly shelved stronger anti‑SLAPP plans, while legal analysts warned the ruling’s impact may be limited by high litigation costs and the law’s narrow economic‑crime focus.