A former Cook County (Illinois) attorney Frank Gardner is suing Fox and Dane Placko, a reporter at Fox-owned WFLD in Chicago, alleging a story the station ran was defamatory.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports neither Fox nor Placko would comment on the lawsuit, which seeks more than $250,000 in damages:
Last February, Fox ran a piece by Placko that alleged Gardner’s wife and son — also named Frank — were running for seats on the Water Reclamation Board, the suit alleged.
AdvertisementIn the story, Placko said that Gardner’s wife was going by her maiden name, Kathleen Mary O’Reilley.
“The defendants labeled Frank’s wife’s use of her maiden name as a deceptive election practice,” the suit stated. “It’s clear from the context of the entire broadcast that the defendants were claiming that the entire Gardner family was corrupt and dishonest.”