The past few weeks international media publications reported massively on the lawsuit that Anky van Grunsven started aginst the Flemmish journalist Astrid Appels.
The court case was supporsed to start on 8 September 2010 in 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, but Anky has decided to give up. She retreated from her fight against Eurodressage.com and Astrid Appels.
It was stated in a press release that, "after careful consideration, in family circle and with her lawyer Mr. Schelstraete, Anky van Grunsven has decided to immediately stop the legal procedure against Flemmish internet journalist Astrid Appels. An error in judgement on Anky's part concerning the strategy of the defendants has facilitated this decision."
Anky's lawsuit had led to world wide discussion about controversial training methods in dressage. The Dutch political "Party for the Animals" has even asked questions in the House of Commons based on a newspaper article in Trouw and the RTL Boulevard broadcast on television. The past few weeks Astrid has received thousands of messages of support and the case received world wide attention.
Claim for this lawsuit was a photo of Salinero which Astrid Appels published on her site in February 2010 as illustration to an article about new definitions of training methods in dressage. Anky considered this publication unlawfully and demanded a removal of the photo, a rectification and a claim for damages. Astrid, however, stressed the freedom of the press. Previous to this publication in question, Appels was bombed with threat emails by Sjef Janssen.
Appels stated that, "on the one hand I regret not having a judicial verdict because I'm convinced that I acted correctly and I also wanted to address the threathening and intimidating actions of the team trainer. On the other hand I think this could be the best solution for everyone. Anky will have to learn to live with the fact that her name will always be attached to a controversial training method but this contrasts with her exceptional achievements, like her three Olympic victories. I will now focus on the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky and will not change my way of writing and publishing."
Astrid Appels has been legally represented by Mr. Weda and Mr. Wensing
Related Links
Party for the Animals Poses Questions on LDR in Dutch House of Commons
Anky van Grunsven Sues Eurodressage