Court mandates compensation for moral damages due to the publication of false and defamatory news

In January 2024, the court passed a judgement, mandating the defendant, SIA All Media Latvia, to pay compensation for moral damages due to the publication of false and defamatory information about Arnis Cimdars.

The Court evaluated the actions of SIA All Media Latvia, which published false information about A. Cimdars shortly after his death. The Court recognised that the false news regarding A. Cimdars’ vaccination certificate, disseminated by SIA All Media Latvia, was an affront to both his and his family’s honour and dignity. The Court concluded that the defendant had overstepped the acceptable boundaries of freedom of expression, and had unjustifiably and disproportionately intruded upon the private life of the plaintiffs and the late A. Cimdars, thereby tarnishing the memory of the deceased and causing emotional distress to his relatives.

The judgement is not open to appeal and is now in effect.

The plaintiff was represented in court by COBALT Managing Partner Lauris Liepa, Associates Kristīne Rāviņa and Gabriela Šantare.