The legal representatives of Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 59, have filed a plea with the High Court of London, urging the court to reject King Juan Carlos’s, 85, request to dismiss her lawsuit alleging harassment.
The High Court of London has conducted preliminary hearings on Corinna’s claim, and the focus is on two crucial aspects.
Firstly, the court is examining whether English courts have the jurisdiction to hear this case. Additionally, King Juan Carlos I has requested the dismissal of the complaint, which the court is also considering.
Corinna’s allegations date back to a period spanning from 2012 to 2020, accusing King Juan Carlos I of direct harassment and harassment through third parties.
Notably, the claims before the king’s abdication on June 18, 2014, have been excluded from the litigation. Last year, the Court of Appeal in England and Wales recognized the former king’s immunity before that abdication date.
Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein vs. King Juan Carlos I in Court
Representing Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, lawyer Jonathan Caplan addressed the court, insisting that the lawsuit should be accepted to establish that his client was a victim of harassment.
Caplan expressed dissatisfaction with the defense’s approach, as they sought to dissect each allegation without considering the overall pattern of harassment.
He highlighted King Juan Carlos I’s influential status and connections, implying that this power dynamic could have affected the case.
The key point of contention revolves around the jurisdiction of the English courts. Corinna’s lawyers have strongly argued that the harm inflicted on their client occurred in England, thus establishing the court’s jurisdiction.
On the other hand, the defense lawyers, including Alexander Thomson and Adam Wolanski, have raised doubts about the English court’s jurisdiction.
They claim that the multiple allegations allegedly took place in different countries and argued that the court should consider the defendant’s domicile, which is Spain.
The relationship between Corinna and King Juan Carlos took an intriguing turn with a significant financial transaction.
The former king had gifted $72 million to Corinna, but later demanded its return.
When she refused to comply with this demand, Corinna claims that she became a victim of harassment, which had severe consequences on her life, leading to anxiety, depression, and financial losses due to an alleged campaign to tarnish her reputation.
Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein is seeking substantial compensation of $163 million for the alleged harm caused by the former king’s actions.
However, King Juan Carlos has vehemently denied any involvement in harassing his former lover, dismissing all allegations against him as false.
As the High Court of London delves deeper into this intriguing legal battle, the world watches with bated breath to see how this royal drama will unfold.