Judges back reforms for ‘fair’ libel trials

Celebrities and other wealthy people will be barred from passing on the costs of libel actions to defendants under reforms proposed today by the country's top judges.

Under the changes claimants in libel actions and other civil cases would pay their own insurance charges and their lawyer's "success" fees, which can lead to a fourfold increase in the bill for a court case.

At the moment insurance and success fees are paid by losing defendants.

The reforms are meant to protect the targets of libel actions from being intimidated into settling cases.

The proposals also suggest that libel damages should reflect the wealth of the claimant.