A woman from Hove is suing a newspaper publisher for invasion of privacy.
Carina Trimingham, 44, who grew up in Hove but now lives in London, has issued a legal claim against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday.
The newspapers carried stories in June and July about her relationship with Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary in the Coalition Cabinet.
According to a claim lodged at the High Court, she says that the stories breached her reasonable expectation of privacy and her statutory right to privacy.
She has asked for damages of more than £300,000.
The eight stories referred to in the claim carried details about her sexuality and previous relationship history.
The claim asks for aggravated damages for the “relentless and spiteful character of the attack” as the eight stories were published over 11 days.
The claim says that the stories caused her huge emotional hurt and embarrassment while “spiteful and abusive” comments attached to online versions of the stories caused her extra distress.
No date has been set for a hearing yet.
