(CelebrityAccess News Service) — Bertelsmann AG is looking into appealing the final judgment issued January 30 by the judge in a lawsuit filed by former AOL Germany executives Jan Henric Buettner and Andreas von Blottnitz. Based on a verdict from a Santa Barbara (California) Superior Court jury, Judge James W. Brown determined that Bertelsmann AG should pay the two plaintiffs 104,655,000 euros each. The judge eliminated 32 million euros from the verdict and found Thomas Middelhoff not liable at all.
In the weeks ahead, Bertelsmann will request that the court either change its judgment in Bertelsmann’s favor or order a new trial. Bertelsmann will look into appealing the case if the judge denies these motions. Bertelsmann General Counsel Ulrich Koch said, "The final judgment reflects neither the facts nor German law, which applied in this case. Bertelsmann firmly believes in the legitimacy of its position and reserves the right to exhaust all legal remedies." –Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
