Amy Winehouse’s father, Mitch Winehouse, has been ordered to pay nearly $2.7 million after losing a lengthy legal battle against two of the late singer’s closest friends over the sale of her personal belongings.
The dispute centered on claims that Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay auctioned off Amy’s personal items in the United States between 2021 and 2023 without Mitch’s knowledge or permission. However, a London court rejected those allegations earlier this year, and a final ruling has now upheld that decision.
In the judgment, the court found that Mitch had been aware of the planned auction and criticized his handling of the case. The judge said he pursued an “inherently weak claim” while making serious allegations that damaged the women’s reputations, careers, finances and health.
Court documents also showed that Mitch had been communicating directly with Julien’s Auctions, the company that handled the sale, and had received information about the auction before it took place. The evidence contradicted his claim that the event had been kept secret from him.
As part of the ruling, Mitch was ordered to cover substantial legal costs and damages, including payments of more than $760,000 to Parry and $527,000 to Gourlay, along with additional legal expenses that bring the total to nearly $2.7 million.
Amy Winehouse, whose landmark album Back to Black made her one of the defining voices of her generation, died in 2011 at the age of 27 from accidental alcohol poisoning. Her legacy continues to resonate with fans around the world.
The ruling brings a high-profile legal dispute involving the singer’s estate to a close, ending years of courtroom battles over the handling of her personal belongings.
