Ferrari papers 'found in rival's home' - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Ferrari papers 'found in rival's home'

Ferrari would have remained "blissfully ignorant" that secret documents had been taken and copied by a rival designer but for a tip-off, a High Court judge was told on Tuesday.

Nigel Tozzi, representing the Italian Formula One team, named McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan and his wife, Trudy, as the defendants in their action at the preliminary hearing at the High Court in London.

Ferrari had earlier won a court order in secret to search the Coughlans' home when the documents were found, together with computers which are to be examined by experts.

Mr Tozzi, asking for the costs of the legal action so far against the Coughlans, told Mr Justice Briggs: "Their conduct by taking these documents, knowing they were not entitled to them, keeping them and copying them - on any view they behaved disgracefully.

"Ferrari would have remained blissfully ignorant of it if not for the tip-off."

The barrister did not explain further on how the Ferrari team learned their design secrets had been taken but won an order for most of the costs.

The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday for Coughlan to provide sworn affidavits on how he came in possession of the Ferrari documents.

Coughlan has already been linked to Ferrari head of performance Nigel Stepney who has been dismissed by the Italian manufacturer.

Coughlan is currently suspended by McLaren.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking