The Weekly Law Reports
[2006] 2 WLR 807
House of Lords
Watkins v Secretary of State for the Home Department and others
[2006] UKHL 17
2006 Feb 13,
14;
March 29
March 29
Lord Bingham of Cornhill, Lord Hope of Craighead, Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe and Lord Carswell
Damages
— Exemplary
— Misfeasance in public office
— Prison officers acting in bad faith when opening prisoner's mail in breach of Prison Rules
— No actual damage suffered
— Whether exemplary damages recoverable
Tort
— Cause of action
— Misfeasance in public office
— Prison officers opening prisoner's correspondence with legal advisers in breach of Prison Rules
— Whether proof of damage necessary ingredient