McKennitt v Ash

Loreena McKennitt

McKennitt v Ash is an English legal case in which Loreena McKennitt, a Canadian folk singer, sued in England to prevent publication of extracts of a book written by a former friend on the grounds of privacy. McKennitt won the case.^[1]

In 2005, McKennitt was involved in an acrimonious court case in the United Kingdom when her former friend and employee, Niema Ash, intended to publish a book which contained intimate details of their friendship. McKennitt argued that much of the book contained confidential personal information, which Ash had no right to publish. The English courts found that there had indeed been a breach of confidence and a misuse of McKennitt's private information, and the case is likely to set important precedents in English law on the privacy of celebrities.^[2] The Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court's decision in 2006, and that affirmation was reaffirmed when the House of Lords declined to hear what would have been a final appeal.^[3]

References

1. Singer McKennitt wins privacy ruling in U.K. court
2. Court ruling ends plans for Loreena McKennitt tell-all book
3. Lords decline to hear McKennitt privacy case

See also

• Privacy in English law