Facts
A newspaper truthfully reported that 'Harold Newstead, thirty-year-old Camberwell man' had been of bigamy. Another Harold Newstead of Camberwell, about 30, sued.
Issue
Is a statement true of one person of another with the same description?
Held
Yes; it was capable of referring to the claimant.
Principle
A statement true of one person can defame another reasonably taken to be meant.
Why it matters
Unintentional defamation.
Cited in these chapters
Cite this page
Newstead v London Express Newspaper Ltd [1940] 1 KB 377 (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/newstead-v-london-express> accessed 31 October 2026
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This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.