See update at end: Sir Elton John is suing The Times for libel over articles that he says falsely linked him to a controversial tax avoidance scheme.
He believes that he was defamed in an article, published on 21 June, in which the The Times said it was revealing "the secrets of tax avoiders". It was headlined: "How movie millions are moved offshore."
The singer was said to have been advised in tax avoidance by his accountant, Patrick McKenna, but the day after the story appeared The Times published a correction in which it acknowledged that McKenna had never been John's accountant.
The paper added a second major "clarification" on 26 July in which it stated that McKenna's company, Ingenious Media, had not been involved in tax avoidance activities.
Elton John's lawyers described the original correction as "wholly inadequate", arguing that the four-line apology did not have equal prominence to the original articles, which appeared on pages one and six of the newspaper.
They say that the correction "deliberately ignored the defamatory impact" of the original article.
The singer was concerned about the effect of The Times articles on his charity work, as the writ says: ""The allegations are particularly damaging to the claimant's reputation in the sphere of charity fundraising."
His lawyers say the articles caused "severe damage" to John's reputation along with "personal distress and embarrassment". They are seeking damages for "the sense of insult and injury".
After publication, the stories in The Times about tax avoidance drew comments from many people, including the prime minister David Cameron.
Updated 4pm: A Times spokeswoman said, by email, that the paper has since lodged an application with the court to determine whether or not the article is defamatory.
Sources: BBC/Carter Ruck
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