Day 308 - 28 Nov 96 - Page 43
1 So, at the moment, I take your stand to be that where there
2 is a headline such as "Why is it wrong for McDonald's to
3 destroy rainforests", that that is comment, save in
4 relation to employment, where the nature of the question
5 posed is rather different and in neutral terms; that the
6 last three lines at the bottom of the first column on the
7 second page of text, starting "It is no exaggeration to say
8 that when you bite into a Big Mac" is comment, but that the
9 rest is statement of fact.
10
11 If, when you have read as much as you read of what
12 Mr. Rampton has produced, or, as you think over your legal
13 submissions, you have a different view, then I will almost
14 certainly give you a short opportunity to put it to me.
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16 MR. MORRIS: I do not think that we said that we consider the
17 bulk of the text to be solely fact rather than comment. I
18 mean, if you remember, some of the general charges we said
19 contain elements of fact and comment.
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21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: That is what I have at the moment.
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23 MR. MORRIS: We will try to do a job -----
24
25 MR. JUSTICE BELL: If you, after you have read what Mr. Rampton
26 has put, said: "We come to a final position and we want to
27 tell you quite shortly what we say is comment and what we
28 say is statement of fact", then I will give you an
29 opportunity to do that.
30
31 MR. MORRIS: Right.
32
33 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I will adjourn until 10.30 on Monday morning,
34 unless Mr. Glenn gets in touch with you tomorrow
35 afternoon. Thank you.
36
37 (The court adjourned until 10.30 a.m. on
38 Monday, 2nd December, 1996)
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