Criminal
Jun. 25, 2002
Court Tosses Suit Against Reporters
LOS ANGELES -A Superior Court judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by two Los Angeles police officers against the Los Angeles Times reporters who broke the Rampart police corruption scandal in 1999.
Judge Irving Feffer cited the state's anti-SLAPP statute in granting a special motion on Thursday to strike the libel claim against Times reporters Matt Lait and Scott Glover and The Times brought by Ross Hay and Dustin Sclater.
The two former CRASH officers contended the newspaper inaccurately reported in articles published on April 8, 2000, and April 9, 2000, that they lied under oath, falsified testimony and evidence, and made false arrests.
Hay and Sclater alleged loss of reputation and promotions because of the article, according to their complaint. Hay v. Tribune Publishing Co., BC248313 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed April 9, 2001).
In addition to dismissing the suit, Feffer awarded attorney fees to the Times' outside counsel, Kelli Sager and Alonzo Wickers of Davis Wright Tremaine of Los Angeles.
Gina Keating
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