Media

Detroit Judge Praises Role of the Media, Tosses Defamation Suit Against WXYZ

January 18, 2019, 3:24 PM


Odis Jones (Photo: LinkedIn)

WXYZ -- and the media overall, for that matter -- got good news Friday.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Leitman dismissed a defamation lawsuit by Odis Jones, former CEO of the Public Lighting Authority against the owner of WXYZ, reports Robert Snell of The Detroit News. At the same time, the judge  praised the role of the press:  

"Now more than ever, we depend upon the 'free press' to 'awaken public interest in governmental affairs' and to 'expose corruption among public officers and employees.' Indeed, 'the press plays a unique role as a check on government abuse' and serves 'as a watchdog of government activity.'”

The federal judge tossed the case, noting that Jones failed because he was a public figure and the station did not act with malice in a series on suspicious severance payments involving Jones, reports Snell:  

Jones sued Channel 7 owner Scripps Media three years ago after the station aired a series revealing that the public utility made more than $500,000 worth of severance payments to departing employees, including Jones. Jones signed agreements authorizing some of the payments and received one when he left the Public Lighting Authority in 2016.


Read more:  The Detroit News


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