RASK Attorneys Successfully Represented Basketball Club Viimsi in a Dispute with a Media Outlet
Case
RASK attorneys Andrei Svištš and Viviana Vilter represented Basketball Club Viimsi in a two-year dispute against Viimsi Uudised OÜ and achieved a landmark settlement in terms of media balance.
The dispute culminated in a settlement reached before Harju County Court, under which Viimsi Uudised OÜ acknowledged that “It is regrettable that the article contained inaccurate and insufficiently verified factual statements, as well as unfounded and inappropriate value judgments.” The portal also removed the defamatory article, which had been published and publicly accessible for more than two years.
“Media holds great power, but also great responsibility. This includes the responsibility to refrain from publishing unchecked content and inappropriate value judgments,” said RASK attorney Andrei Svištš. “The Constitution guarantees the protection of everyone’s personal rights – something that should not be forgotten. Respecting personal rights is not censorship, it is an integral component of quality journalism.”
As part of the settlement, and in light of the circumstances, Viimsi Uudised OÜ also agreed to support youth sports by paying compensation to the basketball club. Notably, the primary objective of the claim was not to seek damages, but to put an end to the ongoing violation of the claimants’ rights and, where possible, to hold the media outlet accountable for infringing their personal rights.
The dispute culminated in a settlement reached before Harju County Court, under which Viimsi Uudised OÜ acknowledged that “It is regrettable that the article contained inaccurate and insufficiently verified factual statements, as well as unfounded and inappropriate value judgments.” The portal also removed the defamatory article, which had been published and publicly accessible for more than two years.
“Media holds great power, but also great responsibility. This includes the responsibility to refrain from publishing unchecked content and inappropriate value judgments,” said RASK attorney Andrei Svištš. “The Constitution guarantees the protection of everyone’s personal rights – something that should not be forgotten. Respecting personal rights is not censorship, it is an integral component of quality journalism.”
As part of the settlement, and in light of the circumstances, Viimsi Uudised OÜ also agreed to support youth sports by paying compensation to the basketball club. Notably, the primary objective of the claim was not to seek damages, but to put an end to the ongoing violation of the claimants’ rights and, where possible, to hold the media outlet accountable for infringing their personal rights.