Federal Court agrees with observer
The legal dispute between *Der Beobachter* and a Thurgau-based construction company has now reached the Federal Supreme Court. The court ruled in favor of the consumer magazine. However, this does not mark the end of the legal battle.
The legal dispute between the Beobachter and a Thurgau construction company has now also reached the Federal Supreme Court. It has ruled in favor of the consumer magazine. However, the legal dispute is not yet over. The Beobachter denounced the construction company's business practices in articles in 2004 and 2005. Following a lawsuit by the building contractors, the Arbon district court prohibited the Beobachter from publishing the allegations in 2006.
However, the Thurgau High Court came to the conclusion the following year that the disputed statements were permissible and that there was no violation of personality rights or disparagement under fair trading law. The building contractors appealed against this decision to the Federal Supreme Court, which has now dismissed their appeal. The appellants were ordered to pay a court fee of CHF 5,000. They must also pay compensation of CHF 6,000.
However, this is by no means the end of the dispute between the building contractors and the Beobachter. In 2006, the President of the Arbon District Court issued a further publication ban, which he confirmed on Tuesday (
). As the Observer announced on Wednesday, it intends to appeal against the two decisions made on Tuesday.
However, the Thurgau High Court came to the conclusion the following year that the disputed statements were permissible and that there was no violation of personality rights or disparagement under fair trading law. The building contractors appealed against this decision to the Federal Supreme Court, which has now dismissed their appeal. The appellants were ordered to pay a court fee of CHF 5,000. They must also pay compensation of CHF 6,000.
However, this is by no means the end of the dispute between the building contractors and the Beobachter. In 2006, the President of the Arbon District Court issued a further publication ban, which he confirmed on Tuesday (
). As the Observer announced on Wednesday, it intends to appeal against the two decisions made on Tuesday.
