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Cuckoo JK Rowling

JK Rowling accepts damages over law firm’s identity leak

Author

By John Glenday, Reporter

August 1, 2013 | 2 min read

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has accepted an undisclosed amount of damages from her own law firm, Russells, after they inadvertently outed her as the author of crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling.

Rowling had used the nom de plume of Robert Galbraith to pen the apparently debut novel, but an unguarded comment over dinner made by Russells partner Chris Gossage was picked up by a friend of his wife who confirmed it in a Twitter exchange with a journalist working for The Sunday Times.

Conceding liability for the breach Russells agreed to cover Rowling’s legal costs as well as a payment, by way of damages, to the Soldiers’ Charity.

In a statement the author also revealed that all royalties accruing from sales of The Cuckoo’s Calling would be donated to the same charity for a period of three years, backdated to 14 July when her identity first became known.

Rowling said: “This donation is being made to The Soldiers’ Charity partly as a thank you to the Army people who helped me with research, but also because writing a hero who is a veteran has given me an even greater appreciation and understanding of exactly how much this charity does for ex-servicemen and their families, and how much that support is needed."

Cuckoo JK Rowling

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