Cincinnati Enquirer sued

Posted Saturday, October 2, 1999 12:00 am

By: Lucia Moses by ex-lawyer for Chiquita

A former lawyer for Chiquita Brands International, George Ventura, is suing The Cincinnati Enquirer for allegedly breaking a promise to protect him as a confidential source for the newspaper's expos? on the banana company.
Ventura, 38, alleges the Enquirer, its parent Gannett Co. Inc., and former reporters Michael Gallagher and Cameron McWhirter revealed that he was a source for the Enquirer's 1998 series about Chiquita's overseas business practices. His federal lawsuit charges breach of contract, fraud, and negligence, and seeks unspecified damages.
Ventura is serving two years of probation after he pleaded no contest to helping Gallagher break into Chiquita's voice-mail system for the series.
Gallagher sparked journalistic outrage when he revealed that Ventura was his confidential source for the now-renounced Chiquita expos? and cooperated in Ventura's prosecution to avoid a prison term. Gallagher, who was
fired by the Enquirer, got five years of probation for stealing the voice-mail messages.
Gannett renounced the series in a front-page apology and said it reached a $10-million settlement with Chiquita.
Gannett, the Enquirer, and lawyers for the paper's two ex-reporters denied the suit's allegations.

(Editor & Publisher WebSite:http:www.mediainfo.com) [Caption]
(copyright: Editor & Publisher October 2, 1999) [Caption]

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Cincinnati Enquirer sued

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