He demands altogether €300,000 in damages.
“As a physician I can say that sometimes illnesses are contagious and our judiciary is ill,” Papšová told RTVS in April 2012. “Juraj Majchrák became ill and so did JUDr [Marta] Lauková, who in the same way died from tough persecution by doctor Harabin.”
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Papšová was the treating physician of the late Lauková who died of serious health conditions, as well as of Majchrák, a one-time vice president of the Supreme Court who committed suicide.
Harabin has sued the psychiatrist over what he called slander and is now seeking €100,000 in damages from Papšová and an additional €200,000 from RTVS for broadcasting the discussion as part of its investigative journalism programme Reportéri in May 2012.
Zuzana Lauková said before the court that though her mother needed intensive medical care, the Judicial Council decided to revoke extra sick benefits from her. In an announcement signed by Harabin it was indirectly written that she simulated her sickness, as reported by the Sme daily.
The daily also wrote that Marta Lauková’s problems started after she had reported to the police in 2009 that one judge wanted to influence one of her decisions. She was moved from the criminal to the civil department, though she focused on criminal law.
Harabin said in court that he was not the justice minister then and did not have powers he could have used to intimidate the judge, Sme wrote.
Lauková, however, responded that Harabin and the Judicial Council did not have a reason to believe a judge who ordered to stop the benefits.
“His guilt is in an unprofessional, non-collegial and arrogant way he treated my mother,” she told Sme.
After the proceeding, Harabin shook hands with Papšová and offered to teach her to dance the kazatchok. Papšová said she had rejected his proposal, as reported by Sme.