MARCH 16, 2006

A win for Purnell

Tony Purnell, the former head of the Jaguar Racing Formula 1 team, has won his libel action in London's High Court against Business F1 magazine and its editor Tom Rubython. Mr Justice Eady ruled that an attempt by the magazine to justify an allegation made that Mr Purnell bribed an F1 journalist could not be sustained. Purnell was awarded his costs and granted an injunction preventing BusinessF1 from repeating the allegation. The jury at the forthcoming trial will thus have to decide only on the level of damages that should be awarded to Purnell.

In a press statement Dominic Crossley, of the law firm Steeles, that acted for Purnell said that he had pursued the case because he was determined to show that the material published was untrue.

"He is rightly delighted at the outcome," it added.

The article in question did not name the journalist in question which means that theoretically at least anyone who is an F1 journalist could sue the magazine for damages.