Collins Stewart wins libel case

BROKER Collins Stewart has won damages and an apology in a libel case it brought against a solicitor who acted for one of its former employees, a spokesman for the company announced this afternoon.

The High Court heard that the solicitor Dale Langley had distributed documents containing unfounded allegations of financial wrongdoing against Collins Stewart to the Press.

The allegations, originally written by former Collins Stewart employee James Middleweek in connection with an unfair dismissal case he brought against the company, were later published in the Sunday Telegraph.

The amount of the damages was not disclosed. The court also awarded legal costs against Langley and his firm. Lawyers for Langley told the court that he and his firm had not intended to make any allegations about Collins Stewart themselves.

Collins Stewart has brought a separate libel action against the Financial Times over its reporting of the same allegations. That case is expected to come before the courts in November.