Court to Re-hear Magnum's Lawsuit Against Äripäev in Light of New EU Directive
The Harju County Court has decided to re-examine the lawsuit of Magnum Medical against the newspaper Äripäev over alleged price manipulation, as a new EU directive protecting the press from SLAPP lawsuits was transposed into Estonian law after the initial hearing but before the judgment.
The Harju County Court in Estonia has ruled to re-hear the case of Magnum Medical, a wholesale pharmaceutical supplier, against the business daily Äripäev and its journalists Koit Brinkmann and Martin Johannes Teder. The lawsuit was initiated after an article published on May 7, 2024, which claimed that drug companies manipulate prices. Magnum Medical argued that the article was based on anonymous sources and contained false statements.
During the initial proceedings, the relevant EU directive aimed at protecting journalists from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) had not yet been incorporated into Estonian law. However, the defendant repeatedly pointed out that the case fell under the directive's scope. Since the directive was transposed after the trial concluded but before the court delivered its decision, the court decided to hear the case anew. Both parties have been given a deadline to submit updated legal positions.
The lawsuit was first reported by Postimees in June 2024. The directive is designed to prevent lawsuits intended to silence journalists by imposing penalties for abusive litigation.
