Justice
Polish Court To Hear Defense Of Lech Walesa
Warsaw, Poland 29 January 2010 - A court in Poland will hear arguments in a lawsuit concerning the violation of the right of publicity and insulting Former Polish President Lech Walesa which, according to the plaintiffs, his daughter and a lawyer Ryszard Rydygier, which occured in the unauthorized biography "Lech Walesa. Idea and history".
Publisher "Arcana“ might be sued by Ms Dominska and Mr Rydygier for violating Right of Publicity by insulting Nobel Prize winner President Walesa, in a book titled "Lech Walesa. Idea and history".
The defendant, "Arcana", published the controversial book, written by Pawel Zyzak, a Cracow Institute of National Remembrance historian. It was based on his 2008 master’s thesis defended at the Jagiellonian University.
Ms Dominska said the book violated her personal feelings which are expressed through her love and respect for her father as well as her dignity.
She wanted a daily newspaper to print a public apology for the “insults and lies” about her father and a ban on print, circulation and sale of the book. She demanded Arcana to pay 20,000 PLN compensation for harm and moral suffering to be paid to the “Abled differently” foundation in Gdansk.
She will appear in court for a hearing scheduled March 8 together with her representative Mr Rydygier.
Mr Rydygier will defend his parallel case after his summons was dismissed. He claimed his Right of Publicity was violated by the author and publisher, who demeaned his “personality rights, which is his memory and respect for Lech Walesa”.
Judge Ewa Olszewska said violation of the lawyer’s personality rights was subjective and the connection he made between the negative statements about Lech Walesa and himself were unjustified.
Historian Pawel Zyzak currently works in America thanks to a scholarship sponsored by the Polish community in Washington. Following the scandal over the book he said he was forced to work in a supermarket, as no one else would hire him. He claimed that the Institute of National Remembrance contacted prospective employees and urging them not to employ the 25-year-old.
His university lecturer, Prof Andrzej Nowak said “just because someone had the courage to ask difficult questions they are unable to get work or develop academically? It’s absurd. Fortunately one can still work abroad”.
“Lech Walesa. Idea and history” was the first political biography of the former President. An anonymous reviewer said the author tried to reach various perspectives to capture the mentality of the protagonist and juxtapose it with historical facts to demonstrate to the reader what kind of man and politician Walesa really was.
President Walesa said neither of the suits were his initiative, but “it’s nice that here and there you can hear someone stand in your defense”.
The former President said he didn’t discuss the matter with his daughter. “When she asked my opinion, I was against it,” he said.
By Victoria Ziarkowski
Freelance Writer
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