Jeff Greene to Sue Newspapers for Costing Him Senate Bid

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Democrats ,; Campaign 2010

(Credit: jeffgreene.com)

Jeff Greene, the wealthy Florida real estate developer who came up short in his Democratic Senate primary race against Rep. Kendrick Meek, is planning to sue two Florida newspapers for libel, the New York Times reports.

According to the newspaper, Greene's suit is grounded in the notion that reporting by the newspapers - The St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald - cost him the primary.

"I want to send a message to every newspaper in the country: Do your homework," he told the Times. "I deserve to have the record corrected, and they deserve to be punished."

Greene plans to seek at least $500 million from the newspapers, according to the New York Times. He has reportedly hired L. Lin Wood, a lawyer who specializes in suits against media outlets for unfair treatment, to represent him.

Among Wood's former clients is Richard Jewell, the security guard who won a settlement after being connected in news reports to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing.

Greene was dogged throughout the campaign by reports of lavish parties on his yacht, and one report in the Times intimated that boxer Mike Tyson, the best man at Greene's wedding, used drugs on the yacht. (The paper later noted that Tyson denied that claim.)

Another story that the New York Times says is the focus of the planned suit reported that Greene, who made much of his fortune betting against the housing market, was involved with a deal that left 300 families homeless.

Greene will have to prove that the newspapers acted with "actual malice" to win the case, which may well be difficult. But regardless of the outcome, the suit is a headache for The St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald, which will have to devote time and money to fighting the charges at a time when many newspapers are struggling to stay in business.

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Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by doberman0306 September 2, 2010 9:22 AM EDT: oh, & 1 more thing, wait'll the NATIONAL ENQUIRER gets ahold of u ha ha, then u'll have a real newsworthy story!; Reply to this comment


by doberman0306 September 2, 2010 9:18 AM EDT: lol now the Dems r gonna start blaming everything & everybody cuz of their losses. get real, U R LOSING FAIR N SQUARE, former Dems r now voting REPUBLICAN. I switched my affiliation and I'm PROUD to say I did....after 28 yrs. of being a Democrat this DEPRESSION (yes call it what it is, call a spade a spade)was the straw that broke this camels back.; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage September 1, 2010 4:25 PM EDT: I personally would have never voted for him if I lived in Florida...I do not!

But, he has a point! Too many times newspapers libel candidates from all parties for favor or payment from one source of another! And, when papers
continuously print miss-truths about the same candidate, I think it's an obvious case of "actual malice"!

So, I wish him good luck!; Reply to this comment


by Myopinion046 September 1, 2010 3:48 PM EDT: If he was libeled, then, best wishes in court.; Reply to this comment


by smartasss1 September 1, 2010 2:59 PM EDT: He's a democrat but sure parties like a republican. That's why he lost.; Reply to this comment


by jeffinpa1234 September 1, 2010 2:11 PM EDT: Go enjoy a fine wine instead of whining about loosing. Dems always think there is somebody to sue for their own shortfalls.; Reply to this comment


by Just_Wonder September 1, 2010 2:06 PM EDT: Jeff, as a fellow Floridian you will have to trust me on this. The press had nothing to do with you losing - you had everything to do with your losing. Now go back to your fancy home and yacht, pore yourself a long cool one and enjoy your life.

Besides, if you hadn't lost the primary you just would have gone on to waste more money in your bid to lose the general election. You don't really think you had a chance at beating either Crist or Rubio do you?; Reply to this comment


by dmwj2 September 1, 2010 12:29 PM EDT: Get'm Greene!!; Reply to this comment

by cleantheDCcesspool September 1, 2010 11:47 AM EDT

Picking up where obamao left off, trying to stifle the First Amendment.

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by Bisk1 September 1, 2010 2:50 PM EDT: Are you accussing the POTUS of something specific here ??? Dumb Dumb Repugs !!


by jscott418 September 1, 2010 11:44 AM EDT: Good luck with that. It hurts when its on yourself. Guess you don't mind when its against your competition.; Reply to this comment