... but is permitted to repeat information already in the public domain
Mr Justice Eady today accepted undertakings from Abbie Gibson, the Beckhams’ former nanny, that she would not use or disclose further confidential information about the couple after they feared more tabloid exposés.
Separately Ms Gibson also undertook that she would safeguard the monies paid to her by the News of the World until the trial of an action for breach of contract/confidence/privacy being brought against her by the Beckhams.
The Judge also ruled, among other things, that: (1) despite a contractual provision prohibiting Ms Gibson from using or disclosing public domain information which had entered the public domain without the authority of the Beckhams, this could not form part of an undertaking because of the massive publicity given to the News of the World story; (2) the undertaking would apply to private information which Ms Gibson claimed to be true (even if the information was in fact false or inaccurate); and (3) additional injunctions which the Beckhams had sought, to prevent Ms Gibson commenting for publication upon the Beckhams “or any person, firm or company associated with them”, were too broadly expressed, and unnecessary
Last weekend, the Beckhams had failed in a bid to get an injunction to stop Ms Gibson from revealing claims about the state of their marriage in the News of the World.
Sara Mansoori (instructed by Harbottle & Lewis) acted as junior counsel for the Beckhams and Mark Warby QC (instructed by Taylor Wessing) appeared as sole counsel for Ms Gibson.
A full case report will appear on 5RB.com when available.
Links
- Beckham nanny to stop new stories – BBC
- Beckhams’ former nanny agrees to say no more – The Times
- Beckhams’ arguments ‘did not mean their marriage was over’ – The Telegraph
- Beckhams stop nanny revealing new claims – The Guardian
- Privacy on Parade – MediaGuardian