A case of libel in the courts, sad for all concerned...

So far, I can only find reference to this case in The Daily Mail, but it appears that Jake Arnott has created a character in his latest novel "johnny come home" that was inadvertently far to close to reality in terms of name and occupation.

Yesterday, Arnott and his publishers Hodder & Stoughton agreed to apologise and pay "substantial" libel damages to (the real) Tony Rocco and will change the novel's character name in all future reprints.

In his novel, Arnott created the character "Tony Rocco" who is a music manager and "...a former singer who had a hit in the 1960s, and is portrayed as a pervert who preys on young teenage boys".

The real and living Tony Rocco is "a singer who had a hit single in the 1960s, was part of the London music scene in the early 1970s and is still performing."

The Daily Mail reports "A relieved Tony Rocco said after the settlement, details of which were not disclosed: 'I am extremely pleased that the record has been set straight and that Mr Arnott and his publisher have accepted, without hesitation, that they were wrong.  The matter was dealt with fairly and promptly and as a result I feel that I can now perform my music before audiences without embarrassment.'"

My sympathies to all concerned.  I can't imagine that any party to this case ever thought they'd be in these circumstances.

And a tip to all writers - do google extensively the names of your fictional characters, especially if they are not particularly loveable.

I wonder what the name of the character will be in the reprints.  But I'm sure the research will be done to the nth degree before "johnny come home" goes again to print.

Update 17/11/06: More in today's Guardian.  (With thanks to kimbofo at Reading Matters for the link.)

Comments

[crimeficreader]

According to the Guardian article (and the Daily Mail come to that) insurance will cover it, Clare. Not nice for anyone though, is it?

[Clare]

I hadn't heard about this, CFR. I do feel sorry for everyone - it must have been very worrying. Maybe they'll recoup the libel payment with increased sales. I do hope so.

[crimeficreader]

And the lawyer clearly took it all the courts, Jim.

[jim pennington]

Mr "Tony Rocco" aka Mr Were (or is that "has-been") knows perfectly well that anyone reading Jake Arnott's pulp fiction would have associated the character with Jonathan King - and not a minor blip in the 60/70's rock scene. And yes Tony Rocco is a made-up name for this poor libelled person. Can someone please explain to me how someone adopting a made-up name can feel/be harmed by some-one else making up the same name by co-incidence? I smell a lawyer in the room.

[crimeficreader]

Roger,
It's a very unfortunate set of circumstances for all concerned. The Mail started off the article with the words "It's every author's nightmare."

Thanks for the link Kim. I've updated the post just in case the comments are not read.

[kimbofo]

The Guardian have the story today.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/generalfiction/story/0,,1950369,00.html

[roger]

Wow. That's a nightmare.

I'm sure it's a coincidence - or the mysterious collective unconscious at work?