Word: libeller
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Thorpe's parliamentary colleagues were aghast. When one Liberal M.P. publicly asked why Thorpe did not sue for libel if the charges were groundless, the party chief's puzzling explanation was that since Scott had no money he had no hope of collecting damages. In a last attempt to prove the innocence of his relationship with Scott, Thorpe released letters he had written to him in 1961 and 1962. They failed to allay all doubts. One letter, for instance, was signed tenderly: "Yours affectionately, Jeremy. I miss you." The following day, Thorpe wrote another letter, resigning his post...
Denouncing the Inquirer piece as "treasonable" and "garbage journalism," he sued the newspaper for $6 million in libel damages. Five days later, 250 members of the pro-Rizzo Building and Construction Trades Council blockaded the Inquirer building for ten hours, stopped distribution of two editions and beat up two of the paper's photographers. City police stood on the sidelines until federal marshals arrived with an injunction against the demonstrators. The Inquirer sued the union, mayor and police department for damages. Disclaiming responsibility, Rizzo said that he had not ordered the police to intervene because the construction workers were...
...democracy, the press must watch over the judicial system too," says Henry F. Schulte, dean of Syracuse University's journalism school. "Gag laws could cut into that function." After the Rockford Star in Illinois ran stories on patronage abuse in local courts, an alleged political appointee sued for libel. Citing the need to preserve a fair trial, a judge then ordered the Star not to write editorials about the issues, namely the worth of local courts. The Star violated the judge's gag and later got it thrown out on appeal. The paper nonetheless faces possible punishment because...
...explore all other possibilities [such as a change of venue]. At this hearing, not only the defense and prosecution but also the press could be heard on a proposed gag rule." Some answer with guidelines obviously is needed. Currently the third most litigated free-speech issue-after obscenity and libel-is the question of gag rules...
Probably far more important than anything coming out of the recall campaign will be effect the libel suit and lawless mob will have on future coverage of Philadelphia and other cities' politics. If adversary relations stay tough, will there be future demonstrations and shutdowns by politicians' goon squads? Will papers feel free to satirize public officials if Rizzo wins his $6-million suit...