An academic author, who claimed Oxford University had unfairly criticised one of his books, has lost a High Court battle against the institution.
Mr Andrew Malcolm is facing legal bills running to thousands of pounds, after losing his fight to take his case to the Court of Appeal. The writer sued the university, claiming a letter to the Times Higher Education Supplement had breached an agreement not to publish derogatory remarks about his philosophy book Making Names.
In January the High Court allowed an application by the university to have the claim dismissed, on the basis that the writer's case was "bound to fail". Mr Malcolm claimed the Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the university had breached an agreement reached in July 1992.
Lord Justice Aldous refused him permission to take the case to the Court of Appeal - effectively ending Mr Malcolm's claim, and meaning he must bear the university's legal costs.