Date: 10-21-1998

Case Style: Richard R. Schlegel, II and Jeri Schlegel v. The Ottumwa Courier, A Division of Lee Enterprises Incorporated

Case Number: 96-1040

Judge: Phillips R. Collett

Court: District Court, Wapello County, Iowa.

Plaintiff's Attorney: Stephen D. Lombardi of the Lombardi Law Firm, Des Moines, Iowa.

Defendant's Attorney: Kasey W. Kincaid and Teri L. Combs of Faegre & Benson LLP, Des Moines, Iowa.

Description: Defamation - Richard and his wife, Jeri, sued the Courier and its editor-in-chief, Russell Cunningham for incorrectly reporting that Richard had declared bankruptcy. Richard claimed the paper defamed him causing him humiliation and damages to his reputation. Jeri claimed loss of consortium. Witnesses testifed that they saw the incorrect bankruptcy notice and never saw a front-page correction.

Outcome: Verdict for Plantiff for $230,000 in compensatory damages broken down as follows: impairment of reputation ($30,000), personal humiliation ($100,000), past mental anguish and suffering ($70,000), and future mental anguish and suffering ($30,000). The jury also awarded Jeri $150,000 compensatory damages for loss of consortium.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: Reported by kms, verdicts@morelaw.com. The date shown above is the date of the appealate court decision.