An academic portrayed as 'smug, unduly dismissive and patronising' in a feature film about the discovery of Richard III's remains has won 'substantial damages' from the film's makers. A statement the High Court today also revealed that the defendants, including comedian Steve Coogan, have agreed to make changes in the film The Lost King as well as to pay legal costs.
In Richard Taylor v Pathe Productions, Richard Taylor (pictured above), then deputy registrar of the University of Leicester, sued over his portrayal in the 2022 film, which purported to be based on the true story of the discovery of the Plantagenet king's remains in a car park in 2012. At a preliminary hearing lat year, His Honour Judge Lewis found that the film portrayed Taylor as knowingly misrepresenting facts and marginalising the role of amateur archeologist Philippa Langley in the discovery. It showed his conduct towards Langley as being 'smug, unduly dismissive and patronising'.
Taylor argued the portrayal in the film caused serious harm to his professional and personal reputations.
Approving the settlement, Mrs Justice Collins Rice said: 'Finding yourself represented in a feature film must be unsettling at the best of times but even more so in these circumstances. I hope this very clear statement and the settlement will help Mr Taylor put this behind him and it is much to the credit of the parties and the legal teams that the stress and costs of trial in this matter have been avoided.’
Taylor's solicitor, Daniel Jennings, defamation partner at commercial firm Shakespeare Martineau, said: 'This is a defamation David and Goliath moment and confirms what Mr Taylor has always believed: that his portrayal in “The Lost King” was damaging, harmful and untrue. Individuals often feel unable to speak up against large corporations and well-known personalities, but this win demonstrates that there is recourse when wrongs have been committed.'
William Bennett KC, instructed by Shakespeare Martineau LLP, appeared for Richard Taylor
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