Tulsa World sues Bates

[Conan71]

Did it impress anyone else how quickly Titus filed this suit???  UTW hits the street on Weds. and they filed on Thurs. I guess that's what is meant by:

"I'll sue your donkey so quick, it'll make your head spin."

I'd figured it was some boiler-plate initial filing already on someone's hard drive, they were waiting for the final straw, added a few facts, and printed it out.

Seeing the detail of the actual suit and it's allegations, I'm quite curious if someone on the UTW staff didn't leak this to someone at the World earlier in the week.  I'd be looking pretty closely at any potentially disgruntled employees if I were KS at this point.

Skrzypczak's wife is an attorney, though not with a "regular" practice per-se, that I'm aware of, but that could help some with legal costs.  There might be a few attorneys in town who dislike the daily paper enough or it's owners to work at a reduced rate or for trade-out.

At any rate, I think UTW could function just fine without it's consistent barbs toward the World.

The World unwittingly gave UTW a lot of attention in filing the suit.  If anything, I think they have played this hand wrong.  If I were a TW advertiser and had read Bates' article, I probably wouldn't have given TW circulation two thoughts after I'd read the article.  But, after the extra attention the World generated with it's filing (and coverage of it) and reading TW's explaination about changing around it's audit companies in the suit, I'm suspicious.

Did anyone else note that the World quit using ABC because their auditing practices were suspect, but those problems were suddenly mitigated in 2004?

There's some slimey muck underneath all this.  My ex-wife and I both used to work in the media and there's more I know about the operations of both companies I'd rather not be quoted as saying in public.  I will agree Waterboy was quite accurate in his assessment of the management policies at NPC/TW/Trib when he was there.

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

The World unwittingly gave UTW a lot of attention in filing the suit.  If anything, I think they have played this hand wrong.  If I were a TW advertiser and had read Bates' article, I probably wouldn't have given TW circulation two thoughts after I'd read the article.  But, after the extra attention the World generated with it's filing (and coverage of it) and reading TW's explaination about changing around it's audit companies in the suit, I'm suspicious.

In the future, we will recall how the TW drove a nail into their own coffin with this suit.
Of course, it will be everyone else's fault when they file bankruptcy.

We wont be without a daily for long, though, but what rises from the ashes might be very different from what we've been used to.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by patric

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

The World unwittingly gave UTW a lot of attention in filing the suit.  If anything, I think they have played this hand wrong.  If I were a TW advertiser and had read Bates' article, I probably wouldn't have given TW circulation two thoughts after I'd read the article.  But, after the extra attention the World generated with it's filing (and coverage of it) and reading TW's explaination about changing around it's audit companies in the suit, I'm suspicious.

In the future, we will recall how the TW drove a nail into their own coffin with this suit.
Of course, it will be everyone else's fault when they file bankruptcy.

We wont be without a daily for long, though, but what rises from the ashes might be very different from what we've been used to.

Could also be a calculated (though poorly) gamble.  I'm not sure what the ad revenue is like at UTW these days, but if Lorton thought there was $75 to 100K per month to gain if UTW were out of the print business, they might consider a libel suit the only way to grab that extra revenue.

I know, kind of grassy knoll/911 conspiracy stuff.

It's a rough time to be in the daily print business.  About all the dailies are good for right now is shorting their stock. [}:)]

[inteller]

just suing Bates now.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090121_16_A13_TheTul409648

you can't squeeze blood from a turnip.

[waterboy]

I don't think its about the money from this suit, Inteller. Even if the TW folds, the Lortons are ok. Do you think Gannett would respond any differently?

[sgrizzle]

UTW pulls the story, now is publishing a retraction. Sounds like confidence is low.

[cannon_fodder]

Comments turned off due to "request of readers" in 3...2...1...


I'm guessing prosecuting the suit against an editors and/or another paper would be very bad PR in the industry.  If they back off of the comments and publish a retraction the TW gets what they want.  I'm guessing either Bates refused to deny the story or they have just had enough of him.

No entry of appearance by any of the defendants.  No filing of service either.  I assume he was served on the 16th, so we could have another week before anything happens.

http://www.oscn.net/applications/ocisweb/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=2180026&db=Tulsa

[MichaelBates]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

Comments turned off due to "request of readers" in 3...2...1...


I'm guessing prosecuting the suit against an editors and/or another paper would be very bad PR in the industry.  If they back off of the comments and publish a retraction the TW gets what they want.  I'm guessing either Bates refused to deny the story or they have just had enough of him.

No entry of appearance by any of the defendants.  No filing of service either.  I assume he was served on the 16th, so we could have another week before anything happens.

http://www.oscn.net/applications/ocisweb/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=2180026&db=Tulsa

No one from the World has contacted me, other than reporter Randy Krehbiel, who sought comments from me 45 minutes after the suit was filed. I have yet to be served with a lawsuit.

[inteller]

i have a feeling that this is TWs way of backing off before the discovery process is underway.  they want to single out Bates in the suit just to put the heat on him, hoping that he will settle.  If he thinks he has a strong case he should take this one all the way and go through the muck.

[tim huntzinger]

Ha ha ha ha ha!! Scriptjacked knew for two days that the suit was going down and said NADA to Bates!! Way to keep it classy! So does Bates retract the column or mortgage his family's future?

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelBates

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

Comments turned off due to "request of readers" in 3...2...1...


I'm guessing prosecuting the suit against an editors and/or another paper would be very bad PR in the industry.  If they back off of the comments and publish a retraction the TW gets what they want.  I'm guessing either Bates refused to deny the story or they have just had enough of him.

No entry of appearance by any of the defendants.  No filing of service either.  I assume he was served on the 16th, so we could have another week before anything happens.

http://www.oscn.net/applications/ocisweb/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=2180026&db=Tulsa

No one from the World has contacted me, other than reporter Randy Krehbiel, who sought comments from me 45 minutes after the suit was filed. I have yet to be served with a lawsuit.

I'm going to play attorney here, Michael.

Publish a retraction on your blog, send Bobby Lorton a dozen roses and a Hallmark card.  All problems solved.

[cannon_fodder]

I assume you are easy to find.  I see that 3 summons were issued.  Wonder why they didn't just zip one off certified mail.  Perhaps they were contact by the UTW and are wrapping that up before turning their attention to you.

FYI, they have 180 days before they need to perfect service.  So really there is no rush.  But in general, if you file a suit you may as well get the ball rolling.

[tim huntzinger]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I assume you are easy to find.  I see that 3 summons were issued.  Wonder why they didn't just zip one off certified mail.  Perhaps they were contact by the UTW and are wrapping that up before turning their attention to you.

Panticzek is sooooo classy: his star columnist makes a mistake, suit follows, and he does not have the decency to let the columnist know what is up? Is that what happened? Served on the 14th, TW contacts Lord Bates on the 16th and Bates says it was out of the blue! Blame your publisher, not the 'Whirled'!

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71


I'm going to play attorney here, Michael.

Publish a retraction on your blog, send Bobby Lorton a dozen roses and a Hallmark card.  All problems solved.

Forget the dozen roses, send him a male stripper.

Oh now, I'm starting rumors...

[]

[MichaelBates]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I assume you are easy to find.  I see that 3 summons were issued.  Wonder why they didn't just zip one off certified mail.  Perhaps they were contact by the UTW and are wrapping that up before turning their attention to you.

Panticzek is sooooo classy: his star columnist makes a mistake, suit follows, and he does not have the decency to let the columnist know what is up? Is that what happened? Served on the 14th, TW contacts Lord Bates on the 16th and Bates says it was out of the blue! Blame your publisher, not the 'Whirled'!

You need to work on your reading comprehension, Tim.