by: Robert Kahn | Courthouse News Service

The former publisher of the Los Angeles Times Magazine claims The Tribune Co. fired and defamed him for objecting to the newspaper's decision to save money by stopping distribution of its Sunday magazine to low-income and minority neighborhoods, while charging them the same price as "the white affluent subscribers."

Steven Gellman sued the Tribune Co., the Los Angeles Times and Scott Pompe, the Times' senior vice president for advertising and targeted media, alleging wrongful firing, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violations of business and professions codes. He demands at $3 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages, plus costs, in Los Angeles Superior Court.