Little Britain star Matt Lucas has become the latest celebrity to seek damages for misuse of private information.
Lucas launched a legal action against Express Newspapers claiming that two stories published last October in the Daily Star following the death Kevin McGee, his former civil partner, misused private information.
The actor is claiming unlimited damages from the newspaper publishing group over a front page story headed ‘Lucas Ex Blew £2 million on Drugs and Booze’and a spread headed ‘Comedian Matt’s Ex Blew £2 million Fortune Before Killing Himself”.
He is also suing over a follow-up story from 8 October headed ‘Celeb Pals in Vigil for Suicidal Matt”.
According to a writ filed with the High Court, Lucas is seeking compensation from Express Newspapers under the Data Protection Act, suggesting it did not comply with data protection principles as required by the Act.
Lucas, who has instructed London law firm Shillings to act on his behalf, is seeking an injunction banning Express Newspapers from repeating the allegations or processing confidential or private information about him, where it is true or false.
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