Model Caprice Wins Damages for 'Gold Digger' Slur

10/3/2003

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. model Caprice on Friday accepted an apology and undisclosed damages over a newspaper article which branded her a "gold digger" after her engagement to the grandson of Californian oil billionaire Marvin Davis.

The Mail on Sunday had quoted an unnamed ex-boyfriend as saying that Caprice, 28, was "desperate to land a rich bloke," after she became engaged to 21-year-old millionaire Alex Davis.

The article, published in August, said the Davis family felt she was a "gold digger" who had never made the big time in acting or modeling and was trying to marry her way to success.

"The truth is that the fiance's family do not hold the views attributed to them," Caprice's lawyer told London's High court.

"On the contrary, Mrs Davis is on record as saying 'Caprice is perfect for my son. I look forward to planning their wedding."'

The Mail on Sunday's lawyer told the court the paper accepted the allegations were untrue. The paper apologized and will pay Caprice damages as well as her legal costs.

After the hearing, former Wonderbra model Caprice said she would give the damages, described by her lawyer as "substantial," to five charities.

"I don't like to sue," she said. "I just did not want people to write anything slanderous," she said.

Asked about her wedding plans she said: "Maybe in a year and a half. We are really not in a hurry."

Caprice recently appeared in London's West End in the musical "Rent" and has just finished filming a new movie "Hollywood Flies" in Canada with British soccer-star-turned-actor Vinnie Jones.