WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AFX) - A judge has awarded $3.5 million in damages to a businessman and one of his companies in a defamation lawsuit against The Citizens' Voice, a newspaper in Wilkes-Barre.
Thomas A. Joseph asserted that he and his business interests, including Acumark Inc., were defamed by a series of articles in which the newspaper cited anonymous sources linking him to suspected illegal activity.
Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella awarded $2 million to Joseph on Friday from The Citizens' Voice, its parent companies and former Voice reporter Ed Lewis. The judge also awarded Acumark, a direct-mail marketing company, $1.5 million from the same four defendants.
The judge ruled against Joseph on his claims for punitive damages. He also ruled against separate claims for damages by two of Joseph's other businesses, Airport Limousine and Taxi Service Inc. and Airport Taxi Limousine and Courier Service of Lehigh Valley.
The Voice said that its stories were accurate and that no proof was offered to show they were false.
'We are very disappointed in the verdict,' Publisher Scott Lynett said Friday. 'We do not believe the facts of the case in any way support this verdict, and we intend to appeal.'
The lead defense attorney, W. Thomas McGough Jr., had argued that Joseph 'put himself in the line of fire' through his friendship with reputed mobster William D'Elia, who was indicted this year on federal charges.
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