Hot air

Arkansas Business, Feb 5, 2007

A Hot Springs man on the receiving end of an investigative report is suing KATV-TV, Channel 7, consumer affairs reporter Jason Pederson and the Arkansas Department of Labor for defamation and invasion of privacy.

According to a civil lawsuit filed Jan. 16 in Pulaski County Circuit Court, a "Seven on Your Side" investigative report claimed Marshall Hancock, owner of an Hot Springs business that rents large inflatable toys and rock climbing walls, hadn't met proper inspection laws before renting out his equipment.

The lawsuit says Mike Watson of the Department of Labor was quoted in the taped segment saying, "Mr. Hancock has not notified our office of his intent to operate in this year or since May of last year" and that "we haven't inspected him at all in over a year."

But Hancock claims he has proof he was inspected three times during those two years and that the news report tarnished his name and caused severe loss of profits.

Hancock is seeking an unspecified amount of damages.

Channel 7 did not return a call before deadline.