Privacy case triumph.Solicitor-advocate David Price claimed last week to have secured the first win on the basis of infringement of privacy following the introduction of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Mr Price acted for Sally Farmiloe in a successful action brought against Associated Newspapers and freelance journalist Alexis Parr for malicious falsehood, breach of confidence, and infringement of privacy.

It arose from an article in the Mail on Sunday in December last year, which was presented as an exclusive interview with Ms Farmiloe revealing her relationship with Tory tycoon Lord Archer.

The article contained information Ms Farmiloe offered the author in confidence, giving the false impression that Ms Farmiloe had given an interview to the Mail on Sunday and that she intended to marry Lord Archer.Mr Price said: 'There will be an increase in cases where people sue because material which has been printed is in breach of their privacy even if it is true.' Meanwhile, the Law Society will officially adopt a defamation pre-action protocol after a period of consultation earlier this year (see [2000] Gazette, 3 February, 4).

The protocol encourages early exchange of documentation to encourage swift settlement.Jeremy Fleming