REPORTER WINS APPEAL, COURT DROPS CONTEMPT CHARGES

Posted Wednesday, May 10, 2000 12:00 am

By: Staff reports Chronicle Writer Refused To Disclose Unpublished Information

The California Court of Appeal has overturned a contempt case involving a reporter who
would not discuss unpublished information about a Marin County murder case, the San
Francisco Chronicle reports.

Dan Fost, a Chronicle staff writer, won the appeal after being held in contempt and
ordered to pay a $1,000-a-day fine on January 18. Fost refused to answer prosecutors'
questions when he was called as a witness in the murder trial of Darrell Hunter. The
reporter had interviewed a key witness while covering the story when he worked for the
Marin Independent Journal.

The decision made yesterday by a three-judge panel clears Fost of any wrongdoing.

Related story:

CALIFORNIA REPORTER HELD IN CONTEMPT (01/20/00)

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REPORTER WINS APPEAL, COURT DROPS CONTEMPT CHARGES

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