In brief: David Wallen settles action

David Wallen, a solicitor who, until last November, was a partner in Robin Thompson & Partners, has settled his libel action against the Birmingham Post. The paper had alleged that Wallen had assaulted the husband of his opponent, a litigant in person, after a hearing at Birmingham County Court, aggravating his stomach abscess and causing him to seek hospital treatment. The Birmingham Post accepted that such an allegation had no substance and apologised in court on 12 September for the distress and embarrassment caused.