Lenny Lottery loses the suit off his back
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lenny Lottery, the Mirror's new Lottery correspondent, who defected from the Sun a week ago, was last night ordered by a High Court judge to hand back his lucky trade-mark suit and tie to his former newspaper.
Mr Lottery, who changed his name from Aiden McGurran by deed poll in 1994, was not in court to witness the unceremonious surrender of the hotly disputed garment.
Mr Justice Neuberger saw lawyers for the Mirror drag the crumpled white suit, decorated with numbered red lottery balls, out of a holdall and pass it over to the Sun's jubilant legal team.
While the bizarre event unfolded, rival teams of scantily clad models from the two tabloid newspapers paraded outside London's Law Courts.
Although the Lenny Lottery lawsuit had its lighter moments, it was not all joviality. Behind the farce were serious issues of intellectual property rights.
Following Mr Lottery's defection, the Sun had asked for the suit back, without success, leaving its new lottery game promoter Sir Lenny Lottery - reporter Brian Flynn - with nothing to wear but a Sun T-shirt or appearing in the paper with his head superimposed on the suited figure of his predecessor.
The judge had heard that Mr Flynn also recently changed his name to Lenny Lottery by deed poll, although he had sensibly not officially attempted to include the title "Sir" - which would be against the law.
Meanwhile, the Mirror flaunted the original Lenny and his white suit.
Now, the Sun's Sir Lenny can be suitably clothed - no doubt to the delight of his "bosom companion", Lady Lucinda Lottery.
Mr Justice Neuberger observed: "It seems to me that the Mirror will now have to have a Lord Lottery."
The Mirror's QC, Richard Spearman, was quick to dispel any such thought. "We are a working people's newspaper, m'lud, and the name Lenny will do for us."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments