By: Joe Strupp Accord Again Reached On Earnhardt Case
The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, which had demanded greater access to autopsy photos of racer Dale Earnhardt after discovering that a NASCAR doctor had been allowed to review the photos, backed off its request following a four-hour meeting Thursday between lawyers for the paper and Earnhardt's widow.
The Sentinel and other press outlets have been barred from reviewing the photos since Volusia County Judge Joseph Will ordered them sealed following a request from Earnhardt's widow, Teresa, who opposes their release. The Sentinel reached an agreement on March 16 with Earnhardt's widow that would allow a medical expert to review the photos for the Sentinel, but no one else. The photos would then be sealed permanently.
But the Sentinel sought to break the agreement after reports surfaced this week that a NASCAR medical expert, Dr. Steve Bohannon, had viewed the photos Feb. 21.
Ashley Allen, a Sentinel spokeswoman, said the paper agreed to abide by the initial arrangement following the attorneys' meeting Thursday, but she declined to cite specific reasons.
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is an associate editor for E&P.
Related stories:
ORLANDO SENTINEL COMPROMISES WITH EARNHARDT FAMILY (03/19/01)
Copyright 2001, Editor & Publisher.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here