Judge decides: >Apache does not have to pay compensation to Land Invest
News website Apache does not have to pay 350,000 euros in damages to project developer Land Invest Group and Joeri Dillen. That is what the civil court of Antwerp has decided today
Apache wrote a series of articles about real estate deals in Antwerp between 2013 and 2016, investigating the possible interwovenness of the real estate sector with Antwerp politics. Land Invest Group and Joeri Dillen, the former head of cabinet of Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA), were mentioned repeatedly.
They felt targeted and found Apache's news "unenlightened". They went to court to demand the removal of the articles and a hefty compensation. The project developer claimed 250,000 euros from Apache, Joeri Dillen asked 100,000 euros.
https:// www.demorgen.be/binnenland/rechter-beslist-apache-moet-geen-schadevergoeding-betalen-aan-land-invest-b52664df/
Full docs: https:// www .apache.be/2018/02/22/de-zaak-apache-de-vonnissen
That Apache was targeted is no coincidence. Apache occupies a special position in the Flemish media landscape: as a readers' cooperative we are independent of large media groups and are not tied to structural subsidies. We also work without advertisers.
We are only accountable to our readers. That means we do not fit in any boxes. It makes us unpredictable and uncontrollable. Something that the established power does not like.
"But that position also makes us very vulnerable at the same time," says Karl van den Broeck. "Over the past fifteen months, we have found time and time again that we can not kick against shins with impunity."
Read more: https:// www .apache.be/2018/02/22/bouwpromotor-en-ex-kabinetschef-de-wever-verliezen-rechtszaak-tegen-apache/ © Apache