A Cologne court has ruled against Arne Schönbohm, former head of Germany’s cyber defense agency, in his bullying lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The court found no evidence of systematic harassment despite Schönbohm’s claims of inadequate protection following a critical media segment. While acknowledging the ministry’s possible shortcomings, the court concluded that Schönbohm’s rights were not significantly violated. He retains the option to appeal and continues his case against ZDF for damages related to the media portrayal.
Cologne Court Rules Against Schönbohm in Bullying Case
The Cologne Administrative Court has ruled that Arne Schönbohm, the former head of Germany’s cyber defense agency, does not have a valid claim for damages related to bullying. Schönbohm, who previously served as the president of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), lost his lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The court determined that there was no evidence of systematic harassment or bullying, which are the criteria for such claims.
Background of the Case
Schönbohm accused the ministry of neglecting his protection after a critical segment aired on Jan Böhmermann’s ‘ZDF Magazin Royale’ in 2022. He alleged that Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) failed to defend him and subsequently removed him from his position. This action, he argued, exacerbated the negative media scrutiny he faced. During the court hearing, Schönbohm detailed the severe backlash he experienced, including death threats and derogatory labels, as well as bullying directed at his family.
In response to the broadcast, Schönbohm sought 5,000 euros in damages from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, asserting that he was unjustly treated. Böhmermann’s satire accused Schönbohm of having inappropriate associations with groups linked to Russian intelligence, a claim that Schönbohm contested in part, leading to a court ruling that prohibited certain statements made in the show. Additionally, he sought 100,000 euros in compensation from ZDF, which was denied by the Munich I Regional Court. ZDF clarified that the show did not directly assert such connections.
While the Cologne Administrative Court acknowledged that the Federal Ministry of the Interior may not have adequately protected Schönbohm, it ultimately concluded that his personal rights were not severely infringed upon. The court highlighted that the adverse public reaction stemmed primarily from the media coverage rather than the ministry’s actions.
During the hearing, the ministry’s legal representatives argued that removing Schönbohm from his role was intended to safeguard him. They noted that he was promptly offered a similarly high-paying position as the president of the Federal Academy for Public Administration after his dismissal from BSI.
Schönbohm retains the option to appeal the court’s decision, although he has yet to decide if he will pursue that route. His focus remains on the ongoing case against ZDF, where points raised in the recent ruling may bolster his argument that the ministry should have provided him with greater protection.
Before the court’s decision, the Federal Ministry of the Interior had reiterated that the Böhmermann show was not the sole reason for Schönbohm’s dismissal, citing a breakdown of trust due to various factors. Ultimately, Schönbohm’s efforts to seek justice in this matter did not yield the outcome he hoped for in the Administrative Court.