David Irving Legal Matters 2022

David Irving faced several legal challenges and potential legal issues during 2022, primarily centered around property disputes, archive custody, and commercial conflicts. While Irving generally sought to resolve matters without formal legal action, several situations escalated to the point where legal intervention was considered or threatened.

Major Legal Disputes

Swedish Archive Custody Dispute

Parties: David Irving vs. Carl Lundström, Fredrik Bermar, and associates Nature: Unauthorized removal and disposal of archived materials Timeline: May-July 2022 Status: Unresolved, Irving terminated agreement

Background

Irving had arranged for Swedish associates to digitize his archives under what he understood to be a limited "inter-library loan" arrangement. The dispute arose when these associates allegedly exceeded their authorization.

Key Allegations by Irving

1. Unauthorized removal: "Carl Lundström took a load of things which he was not authorised to take" (2022-06-14)

2. Property destruction: Expensive office equipment disposed of without permission: - Xerox DC550 copier (£12,000 value) - Canon microfilm reader - Irving: "The 'office equipment' which you took and destroyed, cost thousands of pounds" (2022-05-24)

3. Missing private property: - Over 100 private 16mm films - Private library of 300+ books - Microfilms and family materials - "It was supposed to be an inter-library loan. It is still all my property" (2022-06-14)

Legal Threats

Irving warned of formal legal action:

• "I don't want to involve police or lawyers, but I shall, unless you three all sort this out rapidly" (2022-06-14)
• "I may have to notify the Metropolitan Police concerning this shipment" (2022-05-24)

Resolution Attempts

• Leman Shipping held materials pending resolution (£595 return shipping cost)
• Irving ultimately wrote off most losses rather than pursue formal litigation
• "I have sadly written off the entire storage unit and its contents" (2022-05-24)

Payment Processing Dispute

Party: David Irving vs. iTransact/Payroc Nature: Fee disputes and non-responsive customer service Timeline: Throughout 2022 Status: Ongoing commercial dispute

Core Issues

1. Fee increases: Rate increased from 3.5% to "nearing 6%" without proper notification 2. Unresponsive service: "You have not answered any of the four letters I recently sent" (2022-06-30) 3. PCI compliance demands: Ongoing bureaucratic requirements with threats of penalties

Irving's Position

• Threatened to switch to UK-based processor (Barclays)
• Demanded transparency on fee structure and dispute costs
• Required explanation of $849.82 monthly deductions

Legal Considerations

Irving considered the relationship potentially fraudulent due to:

• Lack of response to formal complaints
• Unauthorized fee increases
• Opacity in charging structure

Potential Criminal Matters

Adam (Grandson) Incident

Date: May 26, 2022 Nature: Alleged attack on Adam's vehicle with acid by fake taxi Parties: Adam vs. unknown attackers with fake license plates Police Response: TFL investigation found license plate "LR66GVZ" did not correspond to licensed vehicle

Irving's Analysis:

• "So the 'cab' had fake number plates and a passenger; that looks as though the attack was deliberate" (2022-05-30)
• Suspected connection to Irving's controversial work and recent archive troubles

Drug Mailing Concerns

Irving warned family members about potential legal risks:

• To Pilar Jr: "try and persuade Pilar Jr to find some other way of getting tablets to her mysterious friends, that (mailing) is the kind of thing that attracts police attention" (2022-05-28)
• Recognition of importation and prescription drug offenses

Property Law Issues

Storage Unit Rights

The Swedish dispute raised complex questions about:

• Bailment law: Whether materials were loaned or transferred
• Authorization scope: What permissions were actually granted
• Property recovery: Rights to reclaim improperly removed items

Irving's Position:

• Materials remained his property under UK copyright law
• Associates exceeded any reasonable interpretation of their authorization
• Disposal of property constituted conversion or theft

International Property Rights

The cross-border nature of the dispute complicated potential legal action:

• Materials shipped from UK to Sweden without proper documentation
• UK courts vs. Swedish jurisdiction questions
• Recovery costs potentially exceeding property value

Commercial Law Matters

Contract Disputes

Multiple ongoing contractual issues:

Publishing Contracts

• Various European publishers "mysteriously cancelled" contracts
• Irving attributed this to "US Government and CIA" pressure (2022-06-15)
• Possible tortious interference claims not pursued

Service Provider Agreements

• iTransact/Payroc unilateral contract modifications
• Dental treatment disputes over quality and cost
• Storage facility contract renegotiations

Litigation Strategy and Philosophy

Avoidance Preference

Irving consistently showed preference for non-legal resolution:

• "I don't want to involve police or lawyers" (repeated multiple times)
• Cost-benefit analysis typically favored accepting losses over litigation costs
• Recognition that legal action would disrupt primary work (writing)

Threat Utilization

Irving used legal threats as negotiating tools:

• Specific mention of Metropolitan Police to pressure Swedish associates
• Written documentation to establish formal record of disputes
• Strategic copying of correspondence to multiple parties

Practical Limitations

Several factors constrained Irving's legal options:

• Financial: Legal costs vs. potential recovery
• Geographic: International nature of disputes
• Time: Litigation would interfere with writing schedule
• Reputation: Additional legal battles might harm remaining business relationships

Professional Legal Advice

Limited evidence of formal legal consultation, though Irving mentioned:

• "I shall now ask for legal advice and claim proper monetary compensation" (2022-05-24)
• Robert Mountford offered assistance: "Would you like me to give them a kick up the ass?" (2022-05-24)

Legal Document Management

Irving maintained detailed written records:

• Extensive email correspondence preserved
• Banking records carefully tracked
• Witness statements from storage facility staff
• Photographic evidence of property conditions

Risk Assessment Patterns

Irving showed consistent pattern of legal risk evaluation: 1. Initial escalation: Strong written demands and threats 2. Cost-benefit analysis: Weighing litigation costs against potential recovery 3. Strategic retreat: Often choosing to accept losses rather than pursue formal action 4. Relationship preservation: Preferring to maintain business relationships when possible

Regulatory Compliance Issues

PCI DSS Compliance

Payment card industry requirements created ongoing legal obligations:

• Mandatory compliance with data security standards
• Potential penalties for non-compliance
• Bureaucratic burden on small business operations

International Trade

Brexit-related complications for international shipping and archival transfers, though not explicitly detailed in available records.

Conclusion

Irving's 2022 legal challenges primarily stemmed from his position as an independent historian and publisher operating outside mainstream institutional support. While he faced significant property losses and commercial disputes, his approach favored pragmatic resolution over formal legal action, consistent with his broader strategy of maintaining independence and avoiding institutional entanglements.