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Friday, July 25, 2008
Ind. Decisions - Terre Haute paper loses $1.5 million defamation suit
Sue Loughlin of the Tribune-Star reports the story today. Some quotes:
TERRE HAUTE — A Sullivan County jury awarded a Clay County law-enforcement officer $1.5 million in damages Thursday after ruling he was defamed by stories published in the Tribune-Star.The lawsuit was filed in June 2004 by Jeff Maynard, then a Clay County sheriff’s deputy who has since been promoted to detective.
The trial in Sullivan Circuit Court started Tuesday and ended Thursday, and a six-member jury deliberated for about two hours.
The jury found in Maynard’s favor and awarded him $500,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.
Tribune-Star publisher Jeremiah Turner said, “We are very disappointed with the jury’s decision and the outcome of the trial. We have always felt and still do that the way we reported the story was truthful, accurate and fair. At this point, we are considering all the options available to us, including an appeal.” * * *
The Tribune-Star had unsuccessfully asked a Sullivan County judge to dismiss the lawsuit based on an Indiana law that shields the public and press from lawsuits that attempt to curb free-speech rights in matters of public interest.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 25, 2008 08:07 AM
Posted to Ind. Trial Ct. Decisions