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Former Christie's director to sue Random House US in UK
A former director of auction house Christie's is suing Random House Inc for defamation of character, under UK laws, the Decanter reports.
Michael Broadbent, who is also a "longstanding columnist" for the magazine, is suing over the book The Billionaire's Vinegar, which is published in the US by Random, although is available in the UK.
The book tells of the 'Jefferson bottles affair', in which a cache of more than a dozen bottles engraved Th. J reportedly came to light in 1985. One of the bottles was sold for more than $150,000 - a record-breaking amount. But the person who first discovered the bottles, Hardy Rodenstock, is being sued by "billionaire businessman" William Koch for being the source of four allegedly fake bottles.
Broadbent claims the author Benjamin Wallace "accuses him of inventing a bid for the half-bottle of 1784 Margaux, to ensure the final buyer paid over the odds".
He also argues the author inaccurately portrays him "'colluding' with Rodenstock"
Comments on this article
By Bartholomew Broadbent
My father has won the lawsuit The press release reads: The libel action centred on the book The Billionaire’s Vinegar, the subject of which was the provenance of a number of bottles of wine said to have been owned by Thomas Jefferson. The book made allegations which suggested that Mr Broadbent had behaved in an unprofessional manner in the way in which he had auctioned some of these bottles and that his relationship and dealings with Hardy Rodenstock, who discovered the original collection, was suspected of being improper. In a statement read out in open court today, Random House apologised unreservedly for making the allegations and accepted that they were untrue. It has given an undertaking not to repeat the allegations and paid Mr Broadbent undisclosed damages. Commenting on the settlement Sarah Webb, head of Russell Jones & Walker’s Defamation department, who acted for Mr Broadbent said: “The Billionaire’s Vinegar made highly damaging claims about my client that seriously compromised both his professional and personal reputation. We are delighted that Random House has today accepted that these allegations are totally without foundation and avoided the need to proceed to a full trial. My client is relieved that the good name he has built up over many years as one of the country’s leading wine experts has been fully restored.”14 Oct 09 02:55
