Associated Newspapers apologises to US entrepreneur and settles libel claim
American entrepreneur Sheldon Adelson and his company Las Vegas Sands Corp have settled their long-running libel action against Associated Newspapers brought over allegations published in the Daily Mail which centred on claims linked to the 2005 takeover of Manchester United football club by Malcolm Glazer.
The High Court was today told that Associated Newspapers withdrew the allegations unreservedly, apologised to the Claimants and had agreed to pay them very substantial damages (£105,000) and their legal costs.
In a statement before Eady J the Claimants’ solicitor said the article suggested Mr Adelson and his company, Las Vegas Sands Corp. the world’s biggest casino operator, had engaged in “despicable business practices” and “habitually and corruptly bought political favour”. The defendant newspaper group acknowledged that these allegations were unjustified, utterly false and highly offensive, and represented a “grave slur” on Mr Adelson’s personal integrity and business reputation.
5RB’s James Price QC, Justin Rushbrooke and Godwin Busuttil (instructed by Schillings) acted for Mr Adelson and Las Vegas Sands Corp, while Mark Warby QC and Adam Speker (instructed by Reynolds Porter Chamberlain) acted for Associated Newspapers.
Links
- Adelson v Associated Newspapers (No 3) – 5RB.com
- Adelson wins damages from UK paper – Business Week
- Daily Mail loses libel fight with tycoon – Express
- Mail makes libel payout to US billionaire – Guardian
- U.S. businessman Sheldon Adelson wins damages from British newspaper – International Herald Tribune Europe
- Daily Mail left with £4 million libel bill – Press Gazette
- US billionaire wins damages from British paper – Reuters
- Wall Street Journal