Naked Sleepwalker Wins $15M Libel Case

Dreamy award is Ireland's biggest ever
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 19, 2010 3:39 AM CST
Updated Nov 19, 2010 4:29 AM CST
Naked Sleepwaker Wins $15M Sex Harass Libel Case
In your dreams.   (?Jaci Berkopec)

An executive arguing he was simply sleepwalking nude when he tried to enter his secretary's room on a business trip has won a $15 million libel judgment against his firm for portraying the incident as inappropriate. Serial sleepwalker Donal Kinsella, 67, won Ireland's biggest-ever libel case after he told a court he was made a "laughing stock" when Kenmare Resources issued a press release saying the firm was seeking his resignation over the incident. Kinsella walked three times to the hotel room door of his secretary, but was ordered back to his bed by his manager, according to accounts.

Kinsella's attorneys said the firm's press release indicated "something juicy" had happened and that the executive was trying to "jump" his secretary, reports the Guardian. The Dublin company plans to appeal "with a view to setting aside both the verdict and the amount," said a statement from the firm. Kinsella said he felt "exhilarated and vindicated" by the verdict. It wasn't clear if he was going to get a good night's sleep. (Click here for another bizarre court case involving a doctor ... and an artichoke.)

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