Sapák does not have to apologize for his statements regarding the Tender for Tugendhat

Brno - Architect Jan Sapák does not have to apologize for his statements regarding the controversial tender for the renovation of the Tugendhat villa in Brno. This was decided today by the Regional Court in Brno. Sapák, who, along with his colleagues, finished in second place in the selection process, repeatedly described the choice of the winner in the media as manipulated. The Czech Supreme Administrative Court recently confirmed errors in the competition organized by the Brno City Hall. Both parties have retained the right to appeal.
    The Regional Court also did not grant the firm Omnia's request that Sapák refrain from making similar statements in the future. If it is not proven that the defendant wrote or authorized those articles, he cannot be held responsible for damages that the company may have incurred, said Judge Dagmar Novotná after the ruling.
    Sapák has repeatedly stated that the project of the winning company Omnia is too expensive and drastic, and compared it to the plastic surgeries of American singer Michael Jackson. Omnia claims that this and other statements have harmed them. However, they are not particularly dissatisfied with the court's verdict. Some statements were successfully clarified, and that was the main goal of the dispute, said Omnia's executive Vít Tichý after the hearing. Nevertheless, he retained the right to appeal, just like Sapák. "The court could not have come to a different conclusion," he commented on the ruling. He already previously did not rule out further legal disputes to achieve the annulment of the tender.
    The Tugendhat villa is the only Czech monument of modern art listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its renovation was supposed to start back in 2002. However, due to many disputes among experts and politicians, it has not yet begun.