By: Joe Strupp The operator of a Chester, Pa., charter school has sued The Philadelphia Inquirer, alleging that "failed business talks between him and Inquirer publisher Brian P. Tierney motivated articles last month that raised questions about the school's use of public funds," the paper reported.
"The suit, filed Tuesday in Delaware County Court, charges that the stories made false, misleading and defamatory statements about Chester Community Charter School and its management company's chief executive, Vahan H. Gureghian," the paper added.
William Marimow, Inquirer editor, "staunchly defended its coverage, which included three stories and an editorial, and said it had nothing to do with any dealings Tierney might have had with anyone."
"In my opinion, it is accurate, it is thorough, it is fair, and it focuses on an issue of public importance - specifically, the education of half the children in Chester," Marimow said in a story. "To me, that is what the First Amendment is all about."
Marimow added that Tierney never spoke to him about the school or its owners, the paper reported. He said he did not learn of any business talks until he read the suit this week. The Inquirer reported that "the portion of the school's money going to business and administration was consistently among the highest for charter schools in Pennsylvania and that its spending percentage on instruction was among the lowest."
The suit alleges Gureghian and Tierney had been in talks about joint ventures in charter schools and billboards, the paper reported, adding "It says Tierney 'boasted' that 'he had the necessary political connections and public influence from his newspapers to obtain approval for charter schools in Philadelphia.'"
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