1. Dow and Jones are both employed by Pundit & Gamble, a firm of stockbrokers. On the busy train home from work, Dow confides in Jones that “like everyone else in her department, Mrs Scrooge, the firm’s finance manager, is on the fiddle.” 

Dow harbours a grudge against Mrs Scrooge and has no reason to believe that his allegation is true. Dow’s comment is overheard by Eve, an acquaintance of Mrs Scrooge, who knows that Mrs Scrooge works for the same firm as Dow. 

The next day Eve writes to Mr Scrooge informing him that she has heard that his wife is embezzling funds at work. Mr Scrooge refuses to believe that this is true and treats the letter as a joke. Meanwhile, Jones feels obliged to inform the senior partner at Pundit & Gamble of Dow’s allegation, whereupon Mrs Scrooge is immediately dismissed.

Discuss the parties’ rights and liabilities in the law of tort.

 

After a few drinks, Amy told Bernadette that Howard, the goalkeeper of Nottingley United, was so bad at his job that sometimes she wondered whether he was conceding goals on purpose; that the defenders at the club were now so big that they looked like they were all on steroids; and that the club’s manager, Igor, was hitting the bottle.

 

The Daily Truth published Bernadette’s story under the headline: 

 

“Exclusive: Bribes, Booze and Drugs:  The Scandal at Nottingley United”.  

 

In the article, Bernadette stated that sources very close to the club had confirmed that Howard, the goalkeeper had been accepting bribes for years; that all of the club’s defenders including the club captain, Jason, took illegal drugs; and that Igor, the club’s manager, was a chronic alcoholic.  

 

Before publishing the story, Bernadette telephoned the club for a comment but was told that the manager and players were unavailable, as they were in a training camp overseas.

 

Carl, an online sports blogger, read the article in the newspaper and immediately posted an item on Twitter which read: 

 

“No surprise: Howard was paid, Igor was smashed and the back four were pumped up.  Nice muscles, Jason.”

 

In fact Howard has never taken a bribe; the club’s defenders including Jason have been on a new fitness regime to increase muscle strength; and Igor is does not drink alcohol.