Joe Aston’s Rampart settles case with French artist - with Nine's help?

The Australian has this morning revealed that journalist Joe Aston, founder of media company Rampart, was sued by French artist Guillaume Dillee - but the case has been suddenly discontinued this week, thanks to a settlement.

As The Australian explained, "Dillee, a third generation scion of a French art valuation consultancy and a 'figurative painter' who moved to Melbourne over a decade ago, was featured in a Rampart article written by freelance journalist Susan Owens back in March."

The article was later wiped from the internet as Dillee responded to allegations and implications in the story.

 

 

 

 

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According to a deal struck by Rampart and Nine - owner of The Australian Financial Review where Aston once worked - in return for a monthly column and a revenue sharing arrangement, Nine would provide legal support to Rampart.

The deal was rescinded after AFR editor-in-chief James Chessell defected to Rampart last month. 

But according to The Australian, considering the sequence of events, it seems a strategy for Dillee's case was decided before that happened.

Because otherwise, as the outlet asked, “Why would Nine spend time and money defending articles written by a “slow news" organisation it no longer has anything to do with?”