Justice For Dennis

This is Christopher Hutchings who, the High Court heard, misled it when saying that a journalist broke the law 22 years ago.

Now Mr Hutchings is charging reporter Dennis Rice £490 an hour in costs as part of an overall claim by his firm Hamlins of £64,500 because Dennis’s bid to get him to retract this was struck out due to his being a 3rd party.

This is for an application Dennis made just three weeks earlier - costing  £255. Hamlins think its response, involving eight lawyers and two barristers, should be charged at more than £21,500 per week.

It comes at a time when you could be forgiven for thinking that our legal system believes journalists  have no rights at all, and the notion of justice for journalists is merely fanciful.

High Court Judge Mr Justice Mann said that figure is “too high” and has ordered a hearing to decide the costs.

If you think this shows our justice system is broken and want to show your support for Dennis, and help fund a good costs lawyer, please make a donation, however small.