Another verdict in the marathon lawsuit of Heinz-Christian Strache against various media companies: the online medium express.at must pay in connection with its reporting on Strache’s divorce. But because of the ‘bad economic situation’ they get off lightly.
“Private information cannot be published even by politicians,” said the judge in Vienna’s Landl district, justifying the conviction against the online medium express.at. After a lengthy media trial involving a number of witnesses, the accused must pay former Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache almost 13,000 euros in damages.
The most personal area of life is violated “in all articles”.
Through 46 messages on the website, social media and app, express.at has violated the very personal atmosphere of the former FPÖ leader’s life. “This has been met in all articles,” the judge ruled after a heated final day of trial.
In addition, the crime of defamation has also been committed. “It is true that my client has to endure more as a public figure than others. But even Heinz-Christian Strache does not have to accept what is reported in the media. He will be pilloried in the media, publicly humiliated and declared an outlaw,” said Strache’s lawyer Maximilian Donner-Reichstädter.
“Bad economic situation” saves express.at
While the plaintiff is demanding a penalty in the higher range – which would amount to 100,000 euros (!) per publication – the amount of 12,938 euros is ultimately lower. The judge justifies this with the “poor economic situation” of express.at, the low number of readers and the obligation not to endanger the survival of the media through a conviction.
Source: Krone
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