Mitch Winehouse, the father of late singer Amy Winehouse, has been ordered to pay £950,000 to two of his daughter's friends after he unsuccessfully sued them for auctioning her possessions.
Court Ruling
Earlier this year, Winehouse lost a High Court case in London against Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay. The two women had auctioned dozens of items belonging to Amy Winehouse, who died in July 2011 at age 27 from alcohol poisoning.
Parry, the singer's former stylist, and Gourlay denied acting dishonestly, stating the items were given or lent to them. Winehouse argued they had no right to sell them.
Details of the Auction
Between 2021 and 2023, 155 items were auctioned, including clothes, ballet slippers, handbags, earrings, makeup, and a dress worn on her final tour in 2011.
During the trial, the court heard claims that Winehouse's friends “took advantage” of his forgetfulness and made over $1.4 million from sales. However, the judge found the women had not concealed any items and that Winehouse “knew all along” about the intended sale, only pursuing them for money after it was completed.
Judge's Statement
Judge Sarah Clarke said on Wednesday: “The claimant chose to bring an inherently weak claim, pursue it aggressively and relentlessly to the end, and make serious and unfounded allegations against the defendants which significantly damaged their reputations, career prospects, financial security and health.”
She added: “The fact that he knowingly and deliberately did this to two young women who had stood faithfully by Amy … makes his unreasonable conduct particularly serious.”
In the April ruling, the judge noted Amy Winehouse was known for her “extraordinary generosity towards her friends and also those she barely knew.”
