Robert Szustkowski, a well-known Polish entrepreneur and philanthropist, has called on the Ringier Axel Springer Polska publishing house to pay compensation in the amount of over PLN 50 million. The reason is the publisher’s failure to fulfill the provisions of the settlement and infringement of his good name.
Origin of the dispute
The background of the conflict dates back to 2017, when Szustkowski filed a lawsuit against the publishing house, accusing it of publishing false information about him. It concerned Szustkowski’s alleged connections with Russian secret services, including the Russian mafia and the KGB and GRU intelligence, and also suggested that he had close ties with Marek Falenta, the organizer of the “tape scandal”. The publisher was also accused of spreading claims that Szustkowski played a key role in this case.
Breach of terms by Ringier Axel Springer Polska
In 2020, the District Court in Warsaw found that the information was untrue and unfair, ordering the publishing house to publish an apology and pay a fine for a social purpose. After the verdict, the parties decided to conclude an out-of-court settlement, the purpose of which was not only to eliminate the effects of the infringement of Szustkowski’s personal rights, but also to introduce mechanisms to prevent further such infringements. Szustkowski also concluded similar agreements with other publishing houses that had previously published untrue information about him.
However, as it results from the current demand for payment, Ringier Axel Springer Polska did not fulfill the terms of this settlement, which prompted Szustkowski to take further legal steps.