Leszczyna Loses Court Battle, Must Apologize to Warchoł Over “Protective Umbrella” Claim

The Rzeszów Court of Appeal dismissed Izabela Leszczyna’s appeal, upholding a ruling that she must apologize and pay damages to former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Warchoł.

Origins of the Dispute

The case dates back to April 2022, when Izabela Leszczyna wrote that a loan company “does not have to worry” because former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Warchoł had “extended a protective umbrella” over it under a law that “colleagues of Zbigniew Ziobro called anti-usury for appearances.” Warchoł assessed at the time that this was an “outrageous lie” and announced a lawsuit against Leszczyna.

Leszczyna must apologize to Warchoł.

District Court Ruling

The Regional Court in Rzeszów ruled in February 2024 that Leszczyna should delete her post, apologize to Warchoł, pay 10,000 PLN to the Subcarpathian Children’s Hospice Foundation in Rzeszów, and cover the legal costs. “The court stated that the Deputy Head of the Civic Platform, Izabela Leszczyna, broke the law, lied, and violated my good name,” Warchoł wrote at the time.

Appellate Court Decision

The former health minister filed an appeal. The Court of Appeal in Rzeszów dismissed it on Thursday, August 6, informed Warchoł’s attorney, advocate Bartosz Lewandowski. “The Court of Appeal in Rzeszów has just dismissed Izabela Leszczyna’s appeal and ordered the plaintiff to be reimbursed for the costs of the proceedings,” the lawyer wrote. “During the proceedings, the defendant raised, among other things, the fact of having immunity and requested the rejection of the lawsuit. The Regional Court and the Court of Appeal in Rzeszów dismissed this motion,” he added.

Warchoł: I Suggest Lie Tutoring from Tusk

MP Warchoł also commented on the matter. “Lies about me will cost [Izabela Leszczyna] 10,000 PLN for the Subcarpathian Children’s Hospice Foundation in Rzeszów. And an apology. The Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal. I did not extend – as she claimed – any protective umbrella over loan companies. On the contrary – I was the author of the law fighting usurers, thanks to which the loan market became civilized,” wrote the former deputy minister.

At the end, the politician thanked his attorney for representing him before the court. “And as for the former minister, I suggest tutoring in lying from her boss – Tusk lies masterfully,” stated the PiS MP. The court’s decision is final. The parties have the right to lodge a cassation appeal.