HEAVY DAMAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22205, 7 March 1934, Page 7

HEAVY DAMAGES

- o RUSSIAN PRINCESS'S CLAIM FILM CORPORATION TO PAY (United Press Association.) . (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 5. The jury awarded Princess Irina Yousoupoff £25,006 as damages. She claimed 2,000,000 • dollars from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Corporation, alleging that the character of Princess Natasha in the picture " Rasputin and the Empress" was so thinly veiled that people throughout the world recognised the character as herself.

Mr Wright, English chairman of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Company, in his evidence," said the film had been cut When Princess Irina complained, and everything possible had been done to satisfy"; her. '■..-"',.

• THE LEGAL COSTS. LONDON, March 5. (Received March 6, at 5:5 p.m.) Princess Irina subsequently telephoned to her mother, (Princess Zenia) at Windsor from her solicitor's office announcing the result. and expressing delight with it." '■.'•" Prince Yousoupoff stateVthat he refused offers to.participate in ta film-to reenact the, killing of Rasputin. The couple, after telephoning to other friends, repeatedly posed for flashlight photographs. The legal costs, embracing both sides, are estimated to exceed £15,000. Sir William Jowitt's brief is supposed to be £2500 and his daily refresher £250, the junior silk £IOOO with "refreshersy and two juniors at £750 each with refreshers. Sir Patrick Hastings's brief was for four figures and; refreshers.

INJUNCTION GRANTED. LONDON, March 5. (Received March 6. ait 8.30 p.m.) Mr Justice Avory, in refusing a stay of proceedings beyond .the morning of March 6 to permit of an appeal, ordered that £IOOO paid into the court by Princess Irina be handed to her solicitors. He entered judgment, ./and-, granted an injunction restraining defendants from publishing the film as complained of in the action. ... :';.i, ■"'"