Mechanic sues 'I spy' programme

An Upper Hutt mechanic who says he was defamed and his business ruined is suing the maker and broadcaster of the "hidden camera" television programme Target for $600,000.

Phil King's claim says his business, Capital Auto Repair Services (Cars), suffered dramatically after the April 1999 broadcast. It ceased trading last February.

He is suing TV3 Network Services, which screened the programme, and the maker, Top Shelf Productions.

Last year in the High Court at Wellington, Master Thomson struck out claims of unlawful interference with trade, breach of the Fair Trading Act and negligence as having no prospect of success, but Mr King is considering an appeal.

Master Thomson said the defamation part of the claim could proceed - a small business owner traded on his reputation and a slur on the way his business traded could be said to be a slur on him personally.

A Cars mechanic was secretly filmed tuning a car that Target had doctored. Target ranked all four mechanics' work in that week's programme as "very disappointing".

Mr King was given a chance to comment before the programme screened, and disputed the findings.

His protests led to a second segment on Target, where he demonstrated the errors he said the programme made. On air, the programme makers called the result a "draw" but offered no apology or retraction.

Mr King now works part-time as a mechanic in Miramar, Wellington.

Target's executive producer, Vincent Burke, said any case would be defended because the report, based on scientific evidence, was sound.

- NZPA