Amount of Award Reduced in Capital's Libel Case

Amount of Reward Reduced in Capital's Libel Case

    The $2.5 million libel award against The Capital, thought to be one of the largest libel judgments in the state, has been reduced to $562,500 on a motion by the newspaper.
     Another motion of the paper, for judgment in favor of The Capital notwithstanding the jury’s decision or for a new trial, was denied by the court.
     Plaintiff John R. Greiber, Jr. had the option to accept the reduced award amount or ask for a retrial on damages. Greiber chose a retrial, which will take place in January 2001, according to Ray Mullady, Jr., attorney for The Capital.
     Mullady said he did not expect the judge to grant the motion for judgment in favor of The Capital, but the motion to remit the award was the next best thing.
     Following the damages trial the case will not necessarily be over and The Capital could still appeal, said Mullady.
     "We’re in about the fourth inning in a 9 inning game," he said.
     Greiber filed the lawsuit claiming a 1997 editorial written by Managing Editor Tom Marquardt contained false statements and caused Greiber to lose business. The jury found statements in the editorial were "false and defamatory" and made with "actual malice." (See Press News, May 2000)
     Greiber was awarded damages as compensation for lost income and humiliation. The jury did not award any punitive damages.