[sumo] Lawsuit Updates

[Jeanne Hedge]

Sorry if this is a re-hash, but I don't recall if this info was 
posted here or not...

The two "yaocho" lawsuits were decided over the last few weeks.

On March 5 the defamation lawsuit (Kyokai and Kitanoumi against 
Kodansha) over yaocho allegations in the March 10, 2007 edition of 
Shukan Gendai (they alleged then-Yokozuna Kitanoumi fixed a bout with 
former Ozeki Takanohana (the late stablemaster Futagoyama) durng the 
senshuraku match of the Haru 1975 basho) was decided. The court found 
the article was based on no real evidence and ordered Kodansha to pay 
15.4 million yen to the Kyokai side (they were looking for 110 
million yen) and to carry an advertisement retracting the article. 
Kodansha will appeal.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20090306p2a00m0na005000c.html

Then, around March 26 the defamation lawsuit (Kyokai and 30 rikishi, 
including Asashoryu), against Kodansha) over a series of articles 
that appeared in The Weekly Gendai in February 2007, alleging 
Asashoryu was playing a major role in match fixing, was decided. The 
court found the allegations were groundless, and ordered Kodansha to 
pay more than 40 million yen to the Kyokai side. Asashoryu alone got 
11 million in damages, while the Kyokai was awarded 6.6 million. 
Damages are to be paid by the freelance journalist who wrote the 
article, a Kodansha official as an individual, and the publisher. 
Kodansha must also retract the article.  The Weekly Gendai will appeal.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25248082-23109,00.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/26/sports/SUM-Match-Fixing.php

(thanks to Kintamayama for the links)















Regards,
Jeanne Hedge