Mosley Wins Record Damages In Suit Over News Of The World Story

Mosley (c) Wins Record Damages In Suit Over Tabloid's Nazi-Themed Orgy Story

FIA President Max Mosley, in his lawsuit over the News of the World report that he engaged in a Nazi-themed orgy, "has won record damages," according to Gibb & Byers of the LONDON TIMES. London High Court Justice David Eady "ruled that there was 'no evidence' that an orgy in which he participated had any Nazi theme" and awarded Mosley US$120,126, "a record damages payout for a breach of privacy in a case decided by a court." Eady agreed with Mosley that the News of the World "had recklessly ignored his right to privacy and was only interested in the material gain from publishing its exclusive story and the accompanying video." Eady also rejected the News of the World's argument that there was "any public interest or defence in recording the activities." Eady: "I decided that the claimant had a reasonable expectation of privacy. ... He was hardly exaggerating when he said that his life was ruined." Eady did reject Mosley's application "for exemplary or punitive damages" (LONDON TIMES, 7/24). In London, Andrew Pierce reports Mosley "decided not to issue libel proceedings but sued the newspaper for an intrusion of his privacy." Mosley's victory "could lead to a flood of similar cases by celebrities whose private lives have been the subject of tabloid newspaper revelations," as lawyers "have warned the ruling has serious implications for press freedom" (London TELEGRAPH, 7/24).

ELABORATE SET-UP? Sources said that Mosley "was the victim of a sting operation by his enemies in the world of motorsport." In London, Andy McSmith notes the claim is that "Mosley's enemies wanted him ousted quickly from his position." Mosley had been "seeking to give the FIA the power to ban powerful individuals from racing events if they were caught cheating," and a source who has worked with Mosley said that he "was '99[%] certain' that the investigation and the News of the World's exposure of Mr Mosley's sex life were linked" (London INDEPENDENT, 7/24).