Legal Research

Executive Wants To File Secret Libel Case Against Mob Reporter

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source:Crime and Justice News, March 4, 2008.

"Domenic Gatto, the chief executive of the Atlantic Express Transportation Corporation, is upset about online articles by Jerry Capeci, who writes for the Web site GangLandNews.com, ther New York Times reports. Capeci is a longtime reporter on organized crime who previously wrote at The Daily News. The articles focused on information Gatto provided in a federal investigation into mob payoffs in the bus industry. Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, Capeci's lawyer, said Gatto called several claims made on the Web site defamatory. Gatto wants to make sure that the litigation file is sealed so no member of the news media or public can examine the case."

"Last month, Gatto's lawyers, who were denied the right to file a secret proceeding, appealed that decision. Capeci is standing behind his reporting. 'Everything I've written can be backed up. It's outrageous that he's trying to litigate in secret. It makes no sense,' Capeci said."

New York Times

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on March 04, 2008 (boomark / email).