Naomi Campbell, who has been involved in a High Court battle against a former personal assistant for leaking information about her affairs to the press, has won her case.
The PA, Vanessa Frisbee, who worked for the catwalk queen for just three months, sold details of Naomi’s affair with Shakespeare In Love actor Joseph Fiennes to a British tabloid for £25,000. At the time the model was still involved with her live-in partner, Renault Formula One boss Flavio Briattore.
On Thursday, a High Court hearing confirmed last month’s decision to award summary judgement in Naomi’s favour without a trial. The original ruling said the former PA’s revelations breached a confidentiality contract she had signed.
Frisbee appealed, arguing that an alleged assault on her by the model meant the agreement was no longer binding. She had also claimed that as Ms Campbell was purporting to have a sexual relationship with Briattore, it was in the public interest to disclose the affair.
On Thursday, however, High Court Judge Justice Lightman ruled that Vanessa Frisbee had acted “in flagrant and deliberate breach of her express and implied duties of confidentiality” in selling her story to The News Of The World.
The decision not to pursue a second open court hearing means the tempestuous fashion icon – who has already had details of her private life aired in court as part of a legal action against The Daily Mirror – will not face further intimate revelations in the public arena.
Naomi is still awaiting judgement over her breach of privacy claim against the tabloid, which was brought after the tabloid published a photograph of her leaving a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
