Max Mosley wins legal battle with News of the World
Thursday, 24 Jul 2008 19:19
Formula One boss Max Mosley wins legal battle
Formula One boss Max Mosley has won his legal battle against the News of the World.
Mr Mosley accused the newspaper of gross invasion of privacy after it alleged he took part in a "sick Nazi orgy".
The 68-year-old sued the paper after it printed pictures of him involved in a five-hour sadomasochistic sex session with prostitutes in a Chelsea apartment.
The News of the World claimed there were "Nazi overtones" during the sex session, allegations Mr Mosley vehemently denies.
The president of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) claims his life has been devastated by the story, published in March, and was seeking punitive damages.
At the high court today Mr Justice Eady awarded Mr Mosley £60,000 in damages.
He said the Formula One boss had a reasonable expectation of privacy and claimed there was no evidence of the "Nazi overtones" claimed by the newspaper.
There was "no public interest" or any justification for the secret recording and publication of the private session involving Mr Mosley, the judge ruled.
The News of the World's defence was damaged during the trial by the failure of their main witness to appear in court and an admission by the paper's editor that the German words spoken on the video were not translated before the story was published.
Speaking outside the court in London this morning, Mr Mosley said he was "delighted" by the ruling.
He claimed it was "devastating" news for the News of the World and demonstrated that "their Nazi lie was completely invented and had no justification".
"They had no right to go into private premises and take pictures and films of adults engaged in activities that were no ones business apart from those involved," he added.
Speaking afterwards, Colin Myler, the News of the World editor, claimed the paper honestly believed that a Nazi theme was involved in the session.
He said the paper still believed the publication of the story was justified and Mr Mosley's behaviour was not acceptable for someone in his position.
"As the elected head of the FIA, Mr Mosley is the leader of the richest sport in the world, with a global membership of almost 125 million," he said.
"This newspaper has always maintained that because of his status and position he had an obligation to honour the standards which his vast membership had every right to expect of him.
"Taking part in depraved and brutal S&M orgies on a regular basis does not in our opinion, constitute the fit and proper behaviour to be expected of someone in his hugely influential position."