Let’s admit
one thing before I get started on this legal rights post; most people, about
85% of people in a crowd, will likely find an argument between a couple
entertaining. It is probably because it is a break from the routine, or a “schadenfreude”situation. UK’s divorce cases had seen middle-class couples split up, spending
more than £1000 to £5000 in divorce settlements, to tycoon relationships, with
the largest sum of £100m being awarded to the wife as owning half of the
husband’s properties.
Televised or
reported divorce cases and our extensive legal rights in terms of marriage makes
us afraid of the rights of others. Our potential partners may abuse these
rights, or rather use these rights, to gain more from us. Another downside is
that regardless of the amount of money you make, you still deserve privacy.
Apparently, the recent divorce case of Sir Christopher
Hohn, hedge fund
magnate, and Jamie Cooper-Hohn involves millions of pounds.
This situation,
if televised, puts Sir Hohn in three kinds of situations. First, the media may
publish delicate information that could put Sir Hohn’s industrial amour into
jeopardy, namely because half of his properties his soon-to-be ex-wife will
receive. Second, it could place him in danger as he will be known as a public
figure with great properties. Third, his privacy is jeopardised within the
industry.
The media
argues that it has a right to publish the proceedings and that the media will
not report the more extreme details of the divorce case. However, the amount of
money involved is extreme. Obviously, the media wants to tell the truth, but
the first to report the divorce case of a millionaire will gain a higher
viewing during the prime time news.
For me,
however, there are some things that should just be left private.
