New Delhi TV's Law Firm Slaps Sorrell With Defamation Suit

Sorrell

WPP CEO Martin Sorrell has been slapped with a defamation lawsuit in New York.

The suit was filed earlier this week by the law firm representing New Delhi Television, which is suing WPP, several subsidiaries and The Nielsen Company for breach of contract, gross negligence and other charges related to an Indian TV audience ratings service (TAM) that is a joint venture of Nielsen and subsidiaries of WPP’s Kantar.

The law firm, New York-based Sabharwal & Finkel, focused its charges on a recent interview Sorrell gave in which he said that the law firm attempted to “extort” money in the form of a settlement on behalf of NDTV. The firm also stated in court papers that Sorrell said the firm was based in Florida, which is incorrect and suggests that the firm is violating the law by practicing there.

The firm also pointed to a comment in the published interview in which Sorrell was quoted as saying that the firm was working for a contingency fee on behalf of NDTV, which the suit said was incorrect, and defamatory in the context in which it was made.

Sorrell also allegedly told the publication LiveMint.com that NDTV’s firm specializes in the restaurant business. S&F countered in its suit that its specialty is “complex commercial litigation, arbitration and banking law.”

S&F alleged that Sorrell’s comments have “gone viral, with tens of thousands of derogatory tweets and other internet communications about the plaintiffs and/or the defamatory statements in just the three days since publication on Aug 24,” and the filing of the suit on Aug 27.

“Sir Martin used that power in publishing the defamatory statements with malice, hatred, ill will, spite and/or wanton, reckless or willful disregard of the rights of the plaintiffs and/ or the injurious effects of his conduct upon the plaintiffs.” The aim, S&F alleged: “to wrongfully gain favorable public opinion for himself and/or WPP with regard” to the pending NDTV suit.

The firm said that Sorrell’s comments have “echoed across the world and have caused grievous injury to the plaintiffs,” which Sorrell was aware he would cause. The injuries to the firm include loss of reputation issues, as well as professional and personal injuries related to being “charged with crimes of extortion and or practicing law in Florida without a license,” the lawsuit contends.

The firm is seeking damages to be determined at trial. Sorrell was the only defendant named in the suit, although S&F also cited 10 “John Does,” that it is seeking the identity of in the New York area that published Sorrell’s defamatory statements against the firm.

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"We are satisfied that there is no merit whatsoever in any of the claims made, and we are preparing a motion to dismiss," said a WPP rep.


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