Phoenix hotelier sues over Republic reportage

By: Joe Strupp 'There ain't no better defense than truth,'
says newspaper attorney James Henderson
A Phoenix hotel owner is suing The Arizona Republic, claiming the newspaper defamed him when it reported last month that his hotel was losing money, needed millions of dollars in repairs, and had been put up for sale.
Steve Cohn, managing director of the Phoenix Hotel Associates ? owner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Phoenix ? filed the lawsuit in Arizona Superior Court July 23 against Phoenix Newspapers Inc., owner of the Republic, reporter Peter Corbett, and several sources who were cited in a July 21 article about the hotel. The suit seeks unspecified damages, legal fees, and court costs.
Cohn says the story hurt his business by giving the impression that his hotel is in dire financial straits, something he contends can drive away business and hurt the hotel's future economic viability.
The Republic's attorney, James Henderson, says the article gives evidence of the hotel's alleged financial problems and is backed up with proper sourcing.
"It's basically true, and there ain't no better defense than truth," Henderson says. "I don't know why they would file this complaint. It doesn't make sense."
The lawsuit cites several passages in the story saying the hotel is "financially troubled," "listed for sale," and "needs $25 million to $30 million in renovations." The story also quotes Cohn denying each allegation.
Cohn says the newspaper based its assertion that the hotel is listed for sale on an industry ad promoting the sale of a downtown Phoenix hotel that does not include the name of the hotel. "They made statements that were untrue," he says.
Underlying the lawsuit is a separate conflict between the newspaper and Cohn over the proposed construction of two new hotels in the Phoenix area.
The Republic has publicly supported the construction of new Marriott and Embassy Suites hotels in the city, arguing that growing convention business has sparked the need for more hotel space. Cohn has opposed the potential competition to his business.
Cohn says the Republic's coverage of him has been tainted by the newspaper's effort to support the new hotels, which are to be built within blocks of the Crowne Plaza.
"The newspaper has been taking shots at me all along because I have done things to block these hotels," says Cohn, who filed an earlier lawsuit against the city of Phoenix seeking to stop public funding for the new hotels.
Henderson refutes Cohn's allegations of biased coverage. "I don't think he likes the poor publicity he has received for his opposition to other hotels being built," he says. "I don't think the newspaper was trying to discredit him."
(Editor & Publisher Web Site:http:www.mediainfo.com) [Caption]
(copyright: Editor & Publisher August 7, 1999) [Caption]