The spokesperson for Reduta of Good Name, Janusz Waliś, commented on the settlement and the fees, saying the compensation serves as a clear reminder of how harmful the racist remarks were and that Poles should not have to hear such language from any German in their country. The platform wPolityce.pl carried a question about Natalia Nitek-Płażyńska’s victory over Hans G. and the case progress.
Waliś explained that the organization was highly satisfied with the Court of Appeal’s repeated rulings and that their cassation appeal to the Supreme Court had effectively been successful. He noted that the original judgment in Gdańsk had held Natalia responsible for the remarks of Hans G., a German who openly disparaged Poles in the workplace and even described himself as a Nazi. It was deemed improper to compel Natalia to apologize to him or cover the case costs.
The latest decision from the Supreme Court Administration was final for the Reduta; the court agreed with their arguments and aligned with the Supreme Court’s reasoning. Hans G. was not afforded constitutional protections in this matter, and Natalia’s former employer was ordered to bear the litigation costs and to contribute 50,000 PLN to the Piaśnica Crime Museum. The organization expressed hope that the compensation would deter similar racist statements in the future.
The group took pride in its legal representation, particularly noting the work of attorney Monika Brzozowska-Pasieka, and welcomed the verdict issued on behalf of the Republic of Poland. It was remarked that the proceedings had taken longer than expected, and Natalia Nitek-Płażyńska had previously been asked to apologize to her former employer for mentioning him in the case.
The litigation spanned four judicial instances, beginning in 2016. The original court ordered Hans G. to pay 50,000 PLN and to issue apologies both privately and publicly to Natalia. Ultimately, the Supreme Administrative Court’s ruling altered that outcome, leading the case to be referred to the Supreme Court for a potential remedy. The Supreme Court then sent the matter back to the Court of Appeal in Gdańsk, which set aside the earlier judgment and returned to the case’s original terms.
Despite the nearly seven-year duration, the favorable decision was seen as a vindication for Natalia and for the Reduta, with its legal team demonstrating considerable efficiency throughout the process. The organization underscored its involvement from the outset and its commitment to defending Polish dignity in the workplace.
Observers were questioned about whether Hans G.’s conduct toward employees reflected broader attitudes among Germans toward Poles. The response suggested concern about a potential pattern, pointing to recent statements by German politicians that appeared to redraw geographic expectations and imply territorial claims on Poland. The Reduta stressed that such rhetoric should not be directed at Poles and hoped the ruling would serve as a reminder that past wrongs by one group do not justify new prejudices against another.
Questions were also raised about whether Hans G. had directed his abusive language at others in the workforce or whether Natalia was singled out. The answer affirmed that racist expressions had been voiced publicly, and Natalia stood up to the conduct, and the seven-year legal struggle culminated in a decision that upheld the right of a Polish citizen to maintain dignity and oppose similar statements in the future.
There was commentary on where the idea originated that Natalia should apologize for recording Hans G.’s statements. The Court of Appeal in Gdańsk had issued a ruling that the Supreme Court did not join, clarifying that the Polish Constitution and the European Charter of Human Rights protected Natalia and that Hans G.’s own political stance and actions did not justify forcing Natalia to apologize or bear the consequences alone. The Reduta and its legal team celebrated the outcome as a fair result in a controversial case.
In closing, the RDI Foundation expressed pride in achieving a fair resolution in this highly publicized matter and thanked those who supported the effort. The interview concluded with a note of gratitude directed toward wPolityce for the coverage.
Source: wPolityce