The Legal Reader^™

Publisher Sues Reporter Over Story

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The company that publishes the Santa Barbara News-Press has sued a reporter, claiming that a story she wrote in the American Journalism Review defamed the newspaper in a ''biased, false and misleading diatribe.''

Ampersand Publishing LLC's lawsuit accuses Susan Paterno of libel and product disparagement and seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Paterno, 48, declined to comment Monday but her attorney, Howard King, said the lawsuit was without merit and that he believes its intended effect was to frighten other reporters who want to write about the News-Press.

''It's to let any reporter know that if you exercise your constitutional rights, it will cost you money, time and put them through turmoil,'' he said.

King noted that AJR was not named as a defendant, and said that numerous editors and an outside law firm vetted the story.

The article, which appears in AJR's December 2006-January 2007 issue under the title ''Santa Barbara Smackdown,'' focused on the turmoil at the newspaper following the departure since July of nearly every top editor and several other employees.

Paterno, who has written for AJR about 10 years, talked with former staffers, some of whom accused News-Press owner and publisher Wendy McCaw of meddling in the newsroom.

This has been a really ugly story since day one. And it's not getting any prettier. Details here from the AP via New York Times.