A London judge has ordered Mitch Winehouse, Amy Winehouse’s father, to pay more than £963,000 ($1.3 million) to two of the singer’s friends after rejecting his claim to proceeds from auctions of her belongings. The ruling matters because the judge found that he had pursued an unfounded case despite knowing the items had been legitimately given to the women, and said his actions harmed their reputations, finances and health.

Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay sold more than 140 items, including clothing, shoes and jewellery, through Julien’s Auctions in 2021 and 2023 for a combined $1.22 million. One dress worn by Winehouse at her final concert in Serbia sold for $243,000; the judge had already ruled in April that the singer had gifted or given the disputed possessions to her friends.