LAMBERT VERSUS LEVITA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 December 1936, Page 7

LAMBERT VERSUS LEVITA

BOARD OF INQUIRY’S FINDING

STATEMENTS IN RECENT SLANDER CASE

(United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, 16th December. A report was issued by the Board of Inauiry appointed by Mr Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minister, to inquire into certain statements affecting the British Broadcasting Corporation during a recent law case, Lambert versus Levita. The case was an action for slander by Mr Lambert, editor of the Corporation’s weekly periodical “Listener,” who was awarded substantial damages against Sir Cecil Levita. The Board of Inquiry finds that the governors and an official of the Corporation were ill-advised in many actions regarding Mr Lambert, and mentions a memorandum warning him of the danger of prejudicing his position through his action. It says that this is not happily worded. The board rejects Mr Lambert’s theory of persecution, and hopes that reconciliation is still possible. During the lawsuit, it was alleged that Sir Cecil Levita told a Broadcasting Corporation official that Mr Lambert believed in the “evil eye.” and in a talking Mongoose named Jeff, thereby implying that he was unfit for the post. It was denied that high officials pressed Mr Lambert to withdraw his action. The House of Commons is discussing the report to-morrow.