Martin Ebner sues Bilanz for defamation
Martin Ebner and his BZ Bank are suing the financial journal Bilanz. Claims for personal injury and unfair competition amounting to several hundred thousand francs are being asserted against editor-in-chief René Lüchinger and the Jean Frey publishing house.
Martin Ebner and his BZ Bank are suing the financial journal Bilanz. Claims for personal injury and unfair competition amounting to several hundred thousand francs are being asserted against editor-in-chief René Lüchinger and the Jean Frey publishing house.
According to SDA, the publisher confirmed a corresponding report in the Basler Zeitung on Thursday. In the legal petition submitted to SDA, Ebner is demanding compensation of CHF 50,000 as well as the profit of at least CHF 35,000 generated by the publication of the article. BZ Bank is even demanding damages of at least CHF 250,000.
Lüchinger had criticized Ebner in March for his stance in the takeover battle for the Swiss reinsurer Converium. The words of offense can be found in the editorial entitled "In the act": Ebner is again on the "corporate prowl" and is "targeting Swiss companies". The financier had sold his 20% stake in Converium to French competitor Scor with a "shrug of the shoulders" and was guided solely by his own "profit maximization". The plaintiffs now want to prohibit Lüchinger and Jean Frey from repeating these statements under threat of punishment.
Lüchinger and his publishing house rejected the claims. The lawsuit was aimed at further critical reporting on the Converium takeover battle. In addition, Ebner is attempting to eliminate his previous activities from the reporting with the injunction request. The plaintiffs' claims are "completely exaggerated". Furthermore, it is not clear why BZ Bank is appearing as a plaintiff. It is not even mentioned in the disputed balance sheet editorial.
According to SDA, the publisher confirmed a corresponding report in the Basler Zeitung on Thursday. In the legal petition submitted to SDA, Ebner is demanding compensation of CHF 50,000 as well as the profit of at least CHF 35,000 generated by the publication of the article. BZ Bank is even demanding damages of at least CHF 250,000.
Lüchinger had criticized Ebner in March for his stance in the takeover battle for the Swiss reinsurer Converium. The words of offense can be found in the editorial entitled "In the act": Ebner is again on the "corporate prowl" and is "targeting Swiss companies". The financier had sold his 20% stake in Converium to French competitor Scor with a "shrug of the shoulders" and was guided solely by his own "profit maximization". The plaintiffs now want to prohibit Lüchinger and Jean Frey from repeating these statements under threat of punishment.
Lüchinger and his publishing house rejected the claims. The lawsuit was aimed at further critical reporting on the Converium takeover battle. In addition, Ebner is attempting to eliminate his previous activities from the reporting with the injunction request. The plaintiffs' claims are "completely exaggerated". Furthermore, it is not clear why BZ Bank is appearing as a plaintiff. It is not even mentioned in the disputed balance sheet editorial.
