Keystone Law are delighted to announce that media and reputation lawyer Jonathan Coad has obtained substantial damages for American photographer and actress Koo Stark following allegations by MTV.
Koo Stark, whose relationship with Prince Andrew has returned to the attention of the public because it was featured in the successful Netflix series “The Crown”, instructed Keystone Law to rebut a false claim made by MTV on its website that she had been a “porn star”. This successful defamation claim follows an earlier one brought on her behalf by Keystone Law, where a national newspaper also paid substantial damages to Ms Stark for making the same allegation.
Jonathan Coad commented:
“This false allegation against Koo Stark has gained new currency because The Crown series has recently covered the period of her relationship with HRH Prince Andrew. Hopefully after the reading of this statement it will not be repeated.”
The below statement was read in Open Court at the High Court this morning
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICEClaim No. HQ
QUEEN’S BENCH DIVISION
MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS LIST
BETWEEN:
KATHLEEN “KOO” STARK
Claimant
-and-
VIACOM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA NETWORKS LIMITED Defendant
______________________________
STATEMENT IN OPEN COURT
______________________________
Solicitor for the Claimant
My Lord I represent the Claimant in this matter, Koo Stark. The Defendant in this action is Viacom International Media Networks Limited, owners of MTV Networks.
On or about 25 October 2018 the Defendant published or caused to be published on its website an article attributed to Caroline Fergusson which alluded to Ms Stark. The article concerned a forthcoming MTV series “Royal World”.
The article cites what are said to be “dramatic moments” from the history of the Royal Family, which number ten in all. “Dramatic moment” number 9 carries the following headline: “When Prince Andrew dated a Porn Star“.
This portion of the Article features a picture of HRH Prince Andrew and carries the following text: “This is why the Royal Family should have their own reality show [to be honest]. During a trip to the Caribbean, Andrew was seen with Koo Stark, an American lady who was no stranger to the porn scene. We can imagine Lizzy was not impressed”.
The allegations made against our client in the article are defamatory because they were published by the Defendant to a very large number of individuals via its MTV website; and the words at issue meant, and would have understood to mean, that the Defendant is a porn actress who has made her living participating in films which are made by pornographers for distribution in the pornography market.
Ms Stark, who was at one time widely expected to marry HRH Prince Andrew, has never participated in any pornographic film, posed for pornographic photographs, or participated in any enterprise which could properly be described as pornographic.
Ms Stark is an American photographer and actress who has appeared professionally on television, in film and on stage. As a photographer, she continues to hold solo exhibitions of her work. She is also a Patron of the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust and Cancer Active.
The Defendant has undertaken not repeat the allegations which are the subject of these proceedings and has paid a substantial sum of money by way of damages to the Claimant and her legal costs.
Accordingly, my Lord it only remains for me to seek your leave to withdraw the record.
Signed for the Claimant: Jonathan Coad (Keystone Law)