Chris Cairns sues Lalit Modi in London

LONDON: Former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns accused former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi of "falsehood" and causing him "professional damage" in alleging he had been involved in match-fixing, as the high court in London started hearing a case of libel on Monday.Cairns has taken legal action over a tweet by Modi who alleged that the player was involved in match-fixing while participating in the T20 Indian Cricket League (ICL). Modi tweeted in January 2010, saying Cairns' name had been struck out from the IPL auction list because of his match-fixing record while captaining Chandigarh Lions in ICL. Cricinfo reportedthat South African cricketer Andrew Hall will be one of Modi's witnesses. "Theallegation made by Lalit Modi that I was involved in match-fixing is scandalousand wholly untrue. For him to circulate such falsehood around the world isoutrageous," said Cairns. He added: "Mr Modi's allegation has caused me hugepersonal distress and professional damage." "It is regrettable that thissituation needs to be resolved in the high court, but it remains important thatthe integrity of cricket is seen to be maintained," Modi said before thehearing. Cairns, an all-rounder, retired from Test cricket in 2004after winning 62 caps. Modi's team argued that only 35 people read Modi's tweetin England and Wales and therefore the grounds for defamation in theseterritories was limited. Cairns' lawyers put the figure at around 100. MarkStephens, a solicitor who has been fighting against WikiLeaks founder JulianAssange's extradition to Sweden to face a sexual assault inquiry, described thecase as "ridiculous" on the grounds "the case should have been struck out as anabuse of process. "We (London) have for too long been the libel capital of theworld, with people jetting in to resolve their defamationdisputes."The British government put forward plans last year toprevent what is labelled "libel tourism". The proposed new rules would blockcelebrities and businessman from bringing such actions in this country unless itcould be proved that publication caused them "substantial harm" in England andWales. The reforms would, in effect, force foreign litigants to sue in thecountry where most of the damage was done, rather than use the English courts.But such changes are yet to come into being. Actor ArnoldSchwarzenegger, later governor of California state in the United States, was in1990 one of the first to take advantage of British courts when he sued anAmerican writer Wendy Leigh.