WPP's Martin Sorrell and Weber awarded 150,000 stg settlement in libel trial |
|
|
|
Published
:
Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:50
|
LONDON (AFX) - Sir Martin Sorrell and his Italian aide Daniela Weber collected 150,000 stg damages for libel and invasion of privacy in the High Court today from his former head of operations in Italy, Marco Benatti, his deputy Marco Tinelli, and their Italian media company Fullsix.Sorrell, founder and chief executive of global advertising group WPP PLC, accepted 100,000 stg in libel damages over money laundering and criminal business activity allegations. Additionally, he and Weber won a record 50,000 stg in damages -- 20,000 stg and 30,000 stg respectively -- for breach of privacy relating to 'grossly offensive images' posted on internet sites.The pair, who the court was told once had a 'personal relationship', had been branded the 'mad dwarf and nympho schizo'.Sorrell had told the court he was 'horrified' at claims he had mafia connections and was portrayed as some kind of ruthless criminal.After just ten days of the expected three-week hearing and after more than 24 hours of anxious talks between the sides, the case came to an end.Fullsix, Benatti and Tinelli repeated their acceptance that the allegations complained of in the blogs were untrue and that the e-mails, which were the subject of the privacy action, infringed the claimants privacy.Sorrell, meanwhile, acknowledged Benatti and Tinelli's assurances they were not personally responsible and is not pursuing his complaint on those grounds.The money was paid into court in February without any admission of liability by the defendants. And all three defendants will have to pay their own legal costs and have agreed to make a contribution to Sorrell's legal bill, estimated at 5 mln stg.Sorrell said: 'The damages speak for themselves. The reason for taking this action was an assault that was made on both WPP and my personal and professional reputation, which I have built up or tried to build up over 30 years.'Anonymous and cowardly attacks of this kind are something we do not take lightly. Attacks of this nature are extremely cowardly. It is difficult to imagine a more vengeful or vindictive attack.'The libel action concerned information posted on internet blog sites which it was admitted originated from Fullsix, but which Benatti and Tinelli denied any responsibility for.The privacy action concerns 'vicious and grossly offensive images' again posted on internet sites which, it was claimed, 'grossly intruded' into the private lives of Sorrell and Weber.Sorrell sacked Benatti as Italian head of WPP about a year ago, replacing him with Weber.Separate legal actions for wrongful dismissal by Benatti against Sorrell and breach of contract by Sir Martin against Benatti continue both in the UK and in Italy.newsdesk@afxnews.comdm/sjm/tcCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
|
|
|
|
Print this Story
WPP may share Sorrell libel trial costs - report 