David Duchovny Sues London’s Daily Mail For Libel

LOS ANGELES (CN) - The Daily Mail newspaper defamed actor David Duchovny by reporting that he had an affair with a tennis instructor, though it "knew that the story was false," and that its "supposed source" was "explicitly denying" the allegations, the actor claims in Superior Court.

Duchovny also sued the Mail's West Coast correspondent, Caroline Graham, who wrote the allegedly defamatory story.

The complaint states: "In an online article posted on October 18, 2008, the Daily Mail published false and defamatory claims that David Duchovny cheated on his wife with a tennis instructor named Edit Pakay. This is false. It never happened. Daily Mail knew that the story was false, or at the very least, it had to have entertained serious doubts about the credibility of its supposed source in light of information it received the evening before the story that its key source was (a) explicitly denying the information contained in the story, (b) explicitly denying having participated in an interview, (c) explicitly denying statements being attributed to her, and most importantly, (d) explicitly and specifically denying a romantic or sexual relationship with David Duchovny. Nevertheless, the Daily Mail went forward with the story - even after being told point blank of its falsity. Predictably, publications worldwide have picked up the story and republished it over the last several days resulting in hundreds of articles repeating the false and defamatory statements on the Daily Mail Web site about an alleged affair between David Duchovny and a woman incorrectly reported as being his tennis instructor. By its intentional and reckless conduct, Daily Mail has caused substantial harm to Duchovny, in complete disregard of the truth and of even a semblance of journalistic integrity."

Duchovny also sued The Mail on Sunday and Associated Newspapers. He demands more than $1 million in damages. He is represented by Stanton Stein.

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