The name of the legendary libel QC, George Carman, returned to London’s courts this week.
In a courtroom where Carman had won many famous victories, barrister Karen Phillipps, described as Carman’s “longstanding friend and companion”, received a public apology and accepted “substantial” but undisclosed damages from the Daily Mail.
She sued over a story published in March last year headlined “A deathbed will, a secret tape and the latest twist in the simmering row between George Carman’s mistress and his son”.
Solicitor Robin Shaw for Phillipps told Mr Justice Eady that his client considered the article accused her of “manipulating a very ill, confused and dying Mr Carman into making or altering his will on his deathbed so as to make her the largest beneficiary of his estate”.
He added: “The article also alleged, in her view, that Miss Phillipps had claimed to have nursed Mr Carman selflessly, when in truth she was not concerned about his health but only in gaining financially.”
Shaw said the libel action had been withdrawn in the light of an apology from the Daily Mail and the offer of “substantial” damages along with the payment of Phillipps’s legal costs.
He added: “Miss Phillipps would like to take the opportunity to make it clear the allegations published by the defendants were wholly untrue and that at no time did she seek to benefit financially from her friendship with Mr Carman.”
By Roger Pearson
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