(posted 7530 days ago)South London Press
NewsColdplay star threatens to sue neighbour
Sep 3 2003
By Anna Ridley, icReporterColdplay band member, Will Champion threatened to sue a neighbour and labelled her a criminal after she mistakenly jumped in a taxi he ordered.
Jacqueline Hall got in the cab when it pulled up outside her house in Kennington, South London - thinking it was the one she had ordered. But halfway through the journey the driver told her that the taxi was actually for the Coldplay drummer.
After reaching her destination, the schoolteacher paid the fare and sent the taxi back to pick up Will.
She then wrote Will and his girlfriend a letter apologising for the mix-up.
But the 31-year-old was horrified to discover a letter from Champion's solicitor two days later accusing her of "deception" and "a criminal act". The lawyers assumed Hall knew that Champion held an account with the taxi firm and was taking advantage of a free ride.
The letter, from showbiz lawyers Russells, said if she did not want any further action taken by the firm she should provide evidence that she had ordered a cab.
The letter warned Hall: "Should it occur again our clients will have absolutely no hesitation in informing the police."
The letter also accused her of being a "nuisance" for posting her apology through 25-year-old Champion's door.
Australian Jacqueline told The Sun: "The reaction was unbelievable. It made my blood boil.
"After I received the letter I was so sick with worry I didn't sleep for three days.
"They threatened to sue me and called me a criminal just because I had accidentally got into a wrong cab. As a teacher my reputation is very important. I could not believe I was being sued for a genuine mistake."
Furious Jacqueline sent an angry letter to Russells saying: "The language you used towards me, (deception, theft, criminal) is an attack on my moral character and perhaps grounds for slander.
"I ordered a black cab and it was late. The taxi driver involved in this incident stopped outside my house. It was his actions that caused this mix-up."
Russells then replied to Hall saying they were willing to accept her version of events.
A spokesman for Coldplay said the band refused to comment.