First publication in Haredim 10: The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court accepted the lawsuit filed by MKS Holdings Ltd. and the company's CEO, Kobi Sharon, against Jerusalem City Council member Dr. Laura Wharton from Meretz, and ruled that she published defamation and violated their privacy - and therefore will be required to pay compensation of NIS 95,000 plus NIS 25,000 in legal costs.
According to the ruling, Wharton led a public smear campaign against the developers, in which she called them “swindlers,” “thugs,” “liars,” and ”greedy,” attributed to them unlawful action without any factual basis, and even published a private photograph she took without permission inside private property.
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The court ruled that Wharton's publications were unnecessary, offensive, and unfounded, and that her public standing only increased the harm.
Attorney Barak Kedem. Photo: Jeremiah Van
Despite this, the court reduced part of the compensation through a technical offset resulting from counter-statements published against her, but clarified that this does not detract from Wharton's full responsibility for the publications, and from the clear determination that she had unjustifiably damaged the entrepreneurs' good name.
Attorney Barak Kedem of the Arbus Kedem Tzur law firm, who represented the plaintiffs: "After an uncompromising legal battle, justice has been served. Anyone who slanders will pay, even if he holds a senior position or a distinguished title. We welcome the court's ruling that requires Dr. Wharton to compensate our clients.".
