Michael Schumacher's family to be awarded damages over false claim that Schuey can walk again

A German publication called 'Bunte' made a series of claims in its Christmas issue last year, claiming to quote an unnamed friend of the driver sating that: "Michael is very thin. But he can once again walk a little with the help of his therapists. He manages to make a couple of steps. And he can also raise an arm."

But arguing in court, Schumacher's lawyer Felix Damm said that the claim was categorically untrue.

"He cannot walk, not even with the help of therapists, as it is said in the article for the cover story," Damm told the court in Hamburg.

The judge will not give the full judgement until next month, but has already indicated that he will award at least €40,000 to Schumacher's family.

Schumacher was inured while skiing off-piste in Mirabel at the end of 2013, suffering serious brain injury and spending months in a coma.

Since then there have been very few updates on the superstar's health, with Schumacher's representatives releasing only very sporadic statements giving updates on his condition.

The story was splashed on the cover of the magazine, causing Schumacher's agent Sabine Kehm to issue a statement denying the story: "Unfortunately we are forced by a recent press report to clarify that the assertion that Michael could move again is not true," she said at the time.

"Such speculation is irresponsible, because given the seriousness of his injuries, his privacy is very important for Michael.

"Unfortunately they also give false hopes to many involved people."

The family didn't leave it at that, with Schumacher's lawyer Damm taking the magazine to court over the inaccuracies and also asserting that the article was a breach of Germany's privacy laws.

"We cannot be forced by lurid reporting to disclose Schumacher's condition," Damm is quoted as saying. "He had a protection of privacy."

Bunte's chief Patricia Riekel and her magazine claim that they had a credible informant who had previously shared information which proved to be correct.

A verdict is expected next month, according to German publication Meedia which reported on the proceedings, but the judge has already indicated that he will find in favour of the family and that damages are likely to be a "minimum of €40,000". The Schumachers are asking for €100,000 in damages.