Max Goes to Court

Earlier this year, when a London tabloid published stories about F1 grand poobah Max Mosley's Nazi-themed sex party, Max vowed to (in the words of my Torts professor) sue the bastards for invasion of privacy. According to the New York Times, the trial against News of the World is well underway:

The Victorian Gothic edifice in central London that is home to the Royal Courts of Justice has witnessed many bizarre trials in its 126-year history, but the one now under way amid the rich oak paneling and stone-arched windows of Court 13 — the case of Max Mosley versus The News of the World — would have a claim on any list of the most unusual.

How often could any court hear a disquisition on the pleasures of caning from a woman who specializes in sexual fantasy play, giggling as she compared taking 12 strokes on the bottom to the joy of finishing a marathon? And how many courts have been treated, as was this one, to an audiotape featuring what one of the tabloids feasting on the trial, The Daily Mail, described as “the sounds of slapping and thwacking” during the Chelsea session?

Give Max credit for sticking to his guns on this. He's consistently refused calls from the other F1 potentates to resign. He's not been shy about his fondness for sadomasochism (although apparently the wife found out via News of the World - ouch!) and is arguing that what consenting adults do in private is nobody's business but their own.

On a purely legal note, I'm astounded at how quickly this has progressed. The scandal broke back in April of this year and the trial is in full flight less than three months later. I can't imagine taking care of a parking ticket in a US court that quickly, much less a large civil suit. Way to go, Brits!