Sinclair sues former D.C. bureau chief

[RedEarth]

Sinclair sues former D.C. bureau chief
By CARYN TAMBER
Daily Record Legal Affairs Writer


Broadcasting giant Sinclair NewsCentral LLC is suing its former Washington bureau chief, whom the company fired last year after he publicly criticized Sinclair’s decision to tell its stations to run an anti–John Kerry documentary as a news story.

In a lawsuit filed late last week in Baltimore County Circuit Court, Sinclair accuses Jonathan S. Leiberman of violating the terms of his contract by speaking about the inner workings of the company without permission and by working for other local news outlets after he was fired.

In October 2004, after Sinclair directed its stations to air “Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal” in prime time as a news story, Leiberman told The Baltimore Sun he felt the documentary was “biased political propaganda.” Election law requires that TV stations give equal air time to political candidates, but there is an exception for news stories, and Leiberman complained that his bosses were trying to sway the election.

He was immediately fired for giving an unauthorized interview.

“Leiberman spoke to the media without permission and divulged confidential and proprietary NewsCentral information to individuals outside of the organization,” the suit reads. “In fact, Leiberman admitted to the media after his termination that he violated Company policy, and knew that termination of his employment was a possible consequence of his breach of his Agreement.”

http://www.mddailyrecord.com/pub/5_396_law/legalnews/172766-1.html

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. Can you say....Frivolous?....I knew you could.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Can you say corpwhorate owned MSM, I knew you could. n/t

[blm]

2. GOOD. Lieberman should enjoy the DISCOVERY STAGE.

,

[JugDack]

3. Duh, if it's confidential and proprietary, it's also true!

They're basically admitting that everything he said was true. If it weren't, they'd sue for libel.

They'll probably drag Leiberman through the grinder, and cost him tons of attorney fees, but they'll unleash a shitstorm of negative publicity, and make a martyr of him with this harrassment by lawsuit.

Any info on a defense fund? I'll be glad to kick in some $ on this one!

[Faygo Kid]

5. Write a book, and blow the cover off Sinclair.

Boy, is this stupid by Sinclair. Now their inner workings come out, and I for one bet it's not a pretty story. And, they make Leiberman a celebrity! Beautiful. Haven't seen such a smart move since Fox sued Al Franken, and boosted the sales of his book by multiples.