Tamedia publishes apology to Carl Hirschmann
Tamedia has published apologies to Carl Hirschmann in various newspapers. This brings an end to a legal dispute that has lasted for years.
In the Tamedia titles Tages-Anzeiger and 20 Minuten, the media company published an apology on Thursday, both online and in print, for its coverage of the Carl Hirschmann case from November 2009 to January 2012. The reason for this is a ruling by the Federal Court. It states that this reporting violated the personality of Carl Hirschmann. In particular, speculative accusations that were not substantiated in court were spread in a way that disregarded the presumption of innocence. The court also criticized the intensity with which the case was reported.
The Federal Court spoke 2017 of "excessive interference" and exposure in the eyes of the average consumer. "This violation of personality cannot be justified by an overriding public interest."
The Zurich Commercial Court also found that Carl Hirschmann had suffered "serious immaterial harm" because of the reports, according to the short text published by Tamedia, which is also available in a French-language version.
Hirschmann's PR consultant Sacha Wigdorovits sent out a statement from his client on Thursday. The latter is satisfied "that after Ringier Tamedia has now also apologized to me, thus settling a legal dispute that has lasted for years." (hae)
