A countersuit by the Japan unit of Italian fashion house Prada got under way in the Tokyo District Court on Tuesday against a former senior retail manager, demanding she pay ¥33 million for harming the firm's image by falsely claiming to the media that the firm engaged in sexual harassment.
Four lawyers representing Prada Japan attended the opening session, but current company executives were not present.
The former manager, Rina Bovrisse, and her lawyers also did not attend.