Tiscali Celebrity

De niro cleared of 'misleading' insurers

Hollywood actor ROBERT De NIRO has been cleared of withholding information about his prostate cancer diagnosis from an insurance company.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. accused the 64-year-old of intentionally withholding information about his diagnosis before they signed a contract to insure the production of his 2003 movie Hide and Seek.

The company claimed he wrongfully checked off a box indicating he had "never been diagnosed with or treated for" various conditions, including a diseased prostate, when he filled out his medical certificate.

Insurers paid out GBP900,000 to cover the cost of production delays incurred when De Niro had to take time out for treatment.

But De Niro maintained he underwent a biopsy three days before and received his diagnosis two days after he completed the insurance documentation. He was cleared of misleading insurers at a hearing on Tuesday (11Mar08)

His attorney Robyn C. Crowther said in a statement: "This ruling vindicates what we've said all along - Mr. De Niro answered Fireman's Fund's questions truthfully and we are pleased that the Court has found that Fireman's Fund can't sue Mr. De Niro for getting cancer." (LJ/WNWE/JC)