Erik Shtilman Files 1.28 Million Shekel Lawsuit Against Journalists and Sports Channel
Erik Shtilman has officially filed a lawsuit against the Sports Channel, Raz Zahavi, and Nadav Tsanciper, seeking 1.28 million shekels in damages. The plaintiff claims the presenters' on-air remarks were intended to humiliate him and damage his reputation.
The battle for Maccabi Tel Aviv between Erik Shtilman and the Recanati family has escalated into a legal dispute. On Tuesday, Erik Shtilman, through his attorney Itay Grady, filed a lawsuit against the Sports Channel, Raz Zahavi, and Nadav Tsanciper following an unusual broadcast in which the presenters harshly criticized his conduct.
The lawsuit stems from an August 6 broadcast on the Sports Channel, where the presenters criticized Shtilman, calling him names such as "the sponsor continues to bark, smear, and talk trash," and describing him as a dangerous person, a leaker, and an inciter.
Shtilman had previously sent a pre-lawsuit warning letter, which was rejected by the defendants' attorney, Uri Best. In the defense letter, it was argued that the presenters' comments were protected under freedom of speech and did not compare to the "contempt and filth" that Shtilman allegedly directs at the Recanati family in various media. The defense also noted that proper disclosure regarding the ownership of the Sports Channel was provided during the broadcast and demanded that Shtilman pay them 1.8 million shekels.
Following the lack of response to his compensation demands, Shtilman filed an official lawsuit, stating:
"They directed against the plaintiff, for 25 consecutive minutes, statements and expressions that were harsh, defamatory, and offensive by any standard, which were intended with the deliberate purpose of humiliating the plaintiff, damaging his value, his image, and his good name, and making him an object of ridicule and contempt in the eyes of all."
According to the lawsuit, Shtilman is forced to repeatedly explain to his family, friends, and business associates that the broadcast does not reflect reality. He argues that the presenters' comments were an illegitimate expression of opinion intended to harm and take revenge on behalf of their employers.
The total claim is 1.28 million shekels: 640,000 shekels to be paid jointly by Tsanciper and Zahavi, and an additional 640,000 shekels from the Sports Channel.
