Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie sue over split claim
8 February 2010
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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have today commenced proceedings against News Group Newspapers Limited following the publication by the News of the World of false allegations about their relationship.
The action comes after publication of the following false allegations in the News of the World on 24th January:
- that Angelina Jolie and/or Brad Pitt visited a divorce lawyer in December 2009 to begin thrashing out a deal;
- an agreement has been concluded between them dividing joint assets of £205m and providing for custody and visitation rights in relation to their children;
- both parties signed the agreement in January 2010; and
- the agreement is to make provision for the parties' separation, which has been agreed, and is to occur imminently.
The publication of these false allegations is being treated as a serious Misuse of Private Information and accordingly a Claim Form has today been issued in the High Court of Justice in London.
Sorrell Trope of Trope and Trope, identified in some media reports as the LA Divorce Lawyer representing the couple has confirmed, in writing, as follows:
“I have had no contact from.., Angelina Jolie and/or Brad Pitt. I have never met your...clients or had any involvement with either of them. The foregoing is true with respect to all other members of this firm”.
In addition the publication of these false allegations is a clear breach of paragraph 1 of the Press Complaints Commission Code of practice which provides that:
“i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.
ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion once recognised must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and - where appropriate - an apology published.
iii) The Press, whilst free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.
iv) A publication must report fairly and accurately the outcome of an action for defamation to which it has been a party, unless an agreed settlement states otherwise, or an agreed statement is published.”
Keith Schilling of Schillings, the couple’s London lawyers, said today:
“The News of the World has failed to meet our clients’ reasonable demands for a retraction of and apology for these false and intrusive allegations which have now been widely republished by mainstream news outlets. We have advised them to bring proceedings which they have now done”.
Note to Editors:
The law recognizes that is irrelevant whether private information is true or false when deciding whether it is entitled to be protected from publication:
“the question in a case of misuse of private information is whether the information is private not whether it is true or false. The truth or falsity of the information is an irrelevant inquiry in deciding whether the information is entitled to be protected… ”
However in this case we can confirm unequivocally, and upon instructions, that the allegations published by the News of the World are false as well as intrusive.
For further enquires please contact:
Schillings
+44 (0)20 7034 9000
legal@schillings.co.uk