Beckham Can't Bend It--Federal Judge Dumps Libel Case

Image via WikipediaCiting the plaintiff's failure to prove In Touch Weekly published allegations of liaisons with a $10,000-a-night call girl with actual malice, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Judge Manuel Real has dismissed Los Angeles Galaxy soccer star David Beckham's libel suit.

Beckham filed the action, David V. Beckham v. Bauer Publishing Co. et al. (Case No. 2:10-cv-07980-R), last September, seeking $25 million from the publisher of In Touch. (See "TUOL" post 1/14/11.) Judge Real also found that the off-field doings of the Galaxy midfielder and spouse of Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham are a matter of public interest.

Beckham's attorneys plan to appeal the decision.