Scripps Station Wants New Judge in Defamation Lawsuit

Scripps owned WEWS (Cleveland) is being sued by a local Mayor for defamation and the station is asking for a new judge to hear the case. 

And it appears the station has a good reason for asking for this request. 

The lawsuit filed by  Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins and village council members says that the station defamed them in a story titled  "How a government-sanctioned scam in Newburgh Heights has taken thousands of dollars from drivers."

The story included claims that Elkins and Newburgh Heights bill drivers for calling the police after an accident, and that the village runs a widespread "scam" that sends "official-looking bills" to some drivers without telling them that the city will not actually seek to enforce payment if they don't pay.

The Mayor and council members did not like how they were portrayed in the story and filed a lawsuit. 

The case was supposed to be heard by Judge Kelly A. Gallagher. But, WEWS has requested a new judge after it was reported that in Facebook posts Gallagher published in 2016 made before Gallagher was elected to the bench, Gallagher praised Elkins and his family, thanked him for his political support, and showed the two attending political events together. 

So yeah, I'm thinking that WEWS has a good reason to get another judge in the case. 

Just saying... 

H/T Cleveland.com 

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