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Sorrell had described the blog as "vindictive" and "vengeful" after learning it had cast him as a "Don Martino" figure, linked to "fraud, deception and money-laundering" last March 20. Under pressure, the blog was closed down three days later, but copycat journals and emails soon appeared, <a href="http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2007/03/28/anonymous-blog-at-center-of-sorrell-libel-trial/?rss1">criticising</a> Sorrell's hands-on management style. Sorrell was due to present a paper trail he claimed would link the pair to the claims. But, ten days into a defamation hearing at London's High Court, the plug was pulled on the action after both sides agreed a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/business/worldbusiness/29libel.html">settlement</a> in which Benatti and Tinelli accept no wrongdoing. In a statement, they said they were not responsible for the blog but agreed the accusations it contained were false.

<FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph>Sorrell had described the blog as <Quote>"vindictive"</Quote> and <Quote>"vengeful"</Quote> after learning it had cast him as a <Quote>"Don Martino"</Quote> figure, linked to <Quote>"fraud, deception and money-laundering"</Quote> last March 20.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Under pressure, the blog was closed down three days later, but copycat journals and emails soon appeared, <Link URL="http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2007/03/28/anonymous-blog-at-center-of-sorrell-libel-trial/?rss1" Window="New">criticising</Link> Sorrell's hands-on management style. Sorrell was due to present a paper trail he claimed would link the pair to the claims.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>But, ten days into a defamation hearing at London's High Court, the plug was pulled on the action after both sides agreed a <Link URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/business/worldbusiness/29libel.html" Window="New">settlement</Link> in which Benatti and Tinelli accept no wrongdoing.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>In a statement, they said they were not responsible for the blog but agreed the accusations it contained were false.</Paragraph> </FormattedContent>

2007-03-29T09:09:00+01:00

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<a href="http://www.wpp.com">WPP</a> boss Martin Sorrell has dropped a libel action against two employees he claimed had used an anonymous blog to slur his character, instead opting to settle for £120,000. Marco Benatti and Marco Tinelli, heads of a WPP Italian subsidiary, were alleged to have likened Sorrell to a Godfather-type mafia boss and published "grossly offensive" images of the advertising chief and an ex-lover.

<FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis> <Link URL="http://www.wpp.com" Window="New">WPP</Link> boss Martin Sorrell has dropped a libel action against two employees he claimed had used an anonymous blog to slur his character, instead opting to settle for £120,000.</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Marco Benatti and Marco Tinelli, heads of a WPP Italian subsidiary, were alleged to have likened Sorrell to a Godfather-type mafia boss and published <Quote>"grossly offensive"</Quote> images of the advertising chief and an ex-lover.</Paragraph> </FormattedContent>

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For background on online PR and social media more generally, It's worth reading our (free to registered users) <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/online-pr-and-social-media-trends-briefing">Social Media Trends Briefing</a> (June 2009). Econsultancy has also published <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/social-media-and-online-pr-digital-marketing-template-files">Social Media and Online PR Template Files</a>, which you can adapt and use for your own projects. For innovation in this space, download our <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/innovation-report">Innovation Report</a>.

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Sorrell settles 'mafia' blog libel case false

2007-03-29T10:22:00+01:00

sorrell-settles-mafia-blog-libel-case-2

2009-04-28T22:45:57+01:00

2009-10-13T08:57:38+01:00

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