Netflix fails to get Baby Reindeer lawsuit dropped

Netflix, the well-known streaming platform, has faced a setback in its legal battle regarding a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by Fiona Harvey, the woman who inspired the character Martha in the popular series Baby Reindeer. Fiona claims that Netflix has spread 'brutal lies' about her to an audience of over 50 million viewers worldwide. The show, created by Richard Gadd, is marketed as 'a true story,' but the judge has determined that some significant events, such as a conviction for stalking, did not actually occur in real life. Netflix has stated, 'We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd's right to tell his story. ' In his ruling, Judge Gary Klausner emphasized, 'There is a major difference between stalking and being convicted of stalking in a court of law. ' He also pointed out that there were numerous discrepancies between the actual events and the portrayal in the series. Fiona Harvey has asserted that she did not engage in various actions depicted in the show, such as stalking a police officer, sexually assaulting Gadd, violently attacking him in a pub, or waiting outside his home for long hours each day. Netflix contended that these actions should be considered 'substantially true' because she had arguably engaged in similar behavior in real life. However, the judge clarified, 'There are major differences between inappropriate touching and sexual assault, as well as between shoving and gouging another's eyes. ' Recently, Jessica Gunning, who portrayed Martha, won an Emmy for her performance, while Richard Gadd has received three Emmy awards for his contributions in acting, writing, and producing. The original stage play by Gadd was described as 'based on a true story,' which implies that certain details may not be entirely accurate, according to the judge. A report from the Sunday Times mentioned that Gadd had expressed concerns to Netflix about how the story was presented as simply 'a true story. ' The judge noted that Netflix's decision to proceed with this portrayal indicated a reckless disregard for the truthfulness of the statements made in the series. Netflix argued that most viewers would recognize that the claims made in the show were not factual, given its dramatic style. However, the judge disagreed, stating, 'While the statements were made in a series that largely has the trappings of a black comedy-drama, the very first episode states unequivocally that 'this is a true story,' thereby inviting the audience to accept the statements as fact. ' Netflix also claimed that the similarities between the real and fictional characters were so broad that average viewers would not identify Fiona as Martha. The judge countered this argument, stating, 'This is not the typical case where a plaintiff happens to be one of hundreds of people that match a fictional character’s broad characteristics. Rather, Martha and Plaintiff [Ms Harvey] have specific similarities that few others could claim to share. ' Nevertheless, the judge did rule in favor of Netflix on some aspects of Fiona's case, dismissing her claims of negligence and gross negligence, as well as her request for punitive damages. Baby Reindeer has emerged as one of the biggest television hits of the past year, recently winning six Emmy Awards in the United States.