FIA president Max Mosley has won his privacy action against British newspaper the News of the World. Mosley has been awarded £60,000 in damages and costs of what is believed to be in the region of £1 million.
Mosley s action was centered on allegations over his sex life the News of the World ran a story earlier in the year showing Mosley involved in an orgy with prostitutes, and alleged that the session had Nazi overtones. However Mosley denied these claims and took legal action against the newspaper for a breach of privacy.
After the prostitute who filmed the session and sold the tape to the newspaper failed to turn up to court, the NOTW s case collapsed.
Mosley is said to be delighted with the outcome of the case and in a statement issued by his lawyers, he has said that he hopes the verdict will act as a warning to others who are considering running similar exposes in the future.
This judgment has nailed the Nazi lie upon which the News of the World sought to justify their disgraceful intrusion into my private life,” Mosley s statement read.
“By law we are all entitled to have our privacy respected. The News of the World invaded my privacy, dreamt-up the most offensive headline possible, and decided that I should not be contacted before publication to prevent me asking the Court for the injunction I would have been entitled to. They and their lawyers have then conducted this case so as to cause maximum embarrassment in the hope that I would be discouraged from continuing.
“I needed a strong judgment to make it absolutely clear that what the News of the World did was wrong. Obtaining that in the full glare of the media has been extremely difficult but I am delighted that we have achieved what we set out to do.I hope my case will help deter newspapers in the UK from pursuing this type of invasive and salacious journalism. I have learnt first hand how devastating an invasion of privacy can be and how readily papers like the News of the World will destroy lives in the knowledge that few of their victims will dare sue them. I want to encourage a change in that practice.
“As I promised at the outset, the damages will go to the FIA Foundation to further their work for road safety and the environment. Finally, I would like to thank all those who have supported me during this difficult period.”
