Nicolas Rey lost his case against the journalist Alexandre Comte who disappeared a month ago

The novelist had revealed an agreement supposed to be confidential between Alexandre Comte and him regarding a collection of short stories published in 2017.

The journalist Alexandre Comte, in trial with the writer Nicolas Rey over writings of which he was the true author, won on Wednesday April 3, a month after his death at only 40 years old, AFP learned from his lawyer, Vincent Toledano. Alexandre Comte died on March 2, “in his sleep, in an unexplained way”said the lawyer.

The journalist was in conflict with the writer Nicolas Rey, 50, over a collection of short stories published in 2017, News of love in which Alexandre Comte recognizes four of his texts”, explains Le Figaro. “An agreement is concluded between the publisher and the injured journalist who thereby waives prosecution for counterfeiting”. As such, the journalist had to be compensated, up to 7,500 euros, and the agreement kept confidential.

“This whole story affected him a lot”

However, Nicolas Rey had not respected the confidentiality clause, far from it. In 2018, he mentioned the agreement in an interview with the magazine The cultural craving and in two different broadcasts on Europe 1 radio. Seized by Alexandre Comte, the Paris judicial court ruled in favor of the journalist at first instance, in July 2020, awarding the plaintiff 10,000 euros in compensation for moral damage. The Paris Court of Appeal on Wednesday confirmed this judgment, bringing the sum to 15,000 euros.

“This whole story affected him a lot,” commented Alexandre Comte’s lawyer to AFP. “Alas, he will not benefit from this late victory, the court of appeal having taken four years to confirm the conviction”. Long time journalist at the magazine Les Inrocks, for which he signed portraits like the one that made him meet Nicolas Rey in 2014, Alexandre Comte had serious health problems due to his dependence on benzodiazepines, medications against anxiety, stress or insomnia . He chronicled his withdrawal on X at the addiction center of the Périgueux Hospital Center, from the end of October to the end of January.

Once out of the hospital, he launched a fundraising campaign on the internet. “Given my disastrous financial situation, it will be almost impossible for me to bounce back after these long months of hospitalization… So if you can – and of course want – to help me get back on the path to life, to work, Well, don’t hesitate!”he wrote.