Latrell Sprewell Files Lawsuit Against the New York Post; Suit Seeks Damages for "Libelous and Defamatory" Articles

Business Wire, Oct 21, 2002

Sports Editors/Basketball Writers & Columnists

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 2002

Latrell Sprewell, small forward for the New York Knickerbockers (the Knicks) basketball team, represented by Weizenecker, Rose, Mottern & Fisher, PC, of Atlanta, today filed a complaint with the Supreme Court of the State of New York against NYP Holdings Inc., the parent company of the New York Post. Marc Berman, a staff writer of the New York Post, is a co-defendant in this suit.

At the core of the suit is a series of articles written by Mr. Berman and published by the New York Post about Mr. Sprewell's finger injury, which the suit alleges as being published with a reckless disregard for the truth, as being 'libelous' and causing damage to Mr. Sprewell's reputation. According to the suit, the defamatory words and statements are in the reports by Mr. Berman that were published and repeated by the New York Post on October 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th of this year. These statements were attributed to unidentified sources, but denied by Mr. Sprewell and his agent. Mr. Sprewell believes that the publication of 'libelous' articles has been damaging to his name, reputation and standing with the Knicks.

"We believe we have a strong case against NYP Holdings and Mr. Berman," said Stephen G. Weizenecker of Weizenecker, Rose, Mottern & Fisher, PC, of Atlanta who is Mr. Sprewell's counsel. "We are confident that the facts presented by us in the courtroom will prove the reckless disregard for the truth demonstrated by Mr. Berman in his articles published by the New York Post. It is time to set the record straight and give the public the truth about these matters."

Timeline of events:

September 8, 2002   Sometime after his birthday party on September 8,
                    during a typical boat outing, Mr. Sprewell slips
                    and injures his hand. The injury involves his
                    right pinkie.

                    Mr. Sprewell attends his regular workout practice
                    and engages in a typical training routine.

September 30, 2002  Mr. Sprewell reports the injury to the Team
                    Trainer, Mr. Saunders, and Coach Don Chaney upon
                    arriving at Knicks facilities for training camp.
                    All concerned thought that the injury was minor.
                    Mr. Saunders suggested that Mr. Sprewell see the
                    team physician for a hairline fracture.

September 30, 2002  Mr. Sprewell was examined by Dr. Norm Scott, the
                    Knicks' physician, and sent to Dr. Sue Scott, an
                    orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Sue Scott recommended an
                    x-ray. The x-ray shows a hairline fracture of the
                    right hand pinkie. Dr. Sue Scott gives Mr.
                    Sprewell the option of placing a pin in the finger
                    to speed up the healing process. Mr. Sprewell
                    chooses surgery to ensure his quick recovery for
                    the season.

October 4, 2002     The New York Post runs the first article by
                    Mr. Berman. The article questions the
                    circumstances under which Mr. Sprewell incurred
                    his injury. In support of the report, Mr. Berman
                    cites two unnamed sources.

October 5, 2002     The New York Post runs the second article by
                    Mr. Berman.  The article again questions the
                    circumstances under which Mr. Sprewell incurred
                    his injury citing mounting evidence, but only
                    relies on the two sources. Mr. Sprewell again
                    denies the report.

October 7, 2002     The New York Post runs the third article by
                    Mr. Berman. The article again reports
                    circumstances under which Mr. Sprewell incurred
                    his injury, which the suit cites as untrue.

October 7, 2002     Immediately following the reports by Mr. Berman,
                    the Knicks levy a fine of $250,000 on Mr.
                    Sprewell for failing to report his injury
                    "in a timely manner."

October 8, 2002     The New York Post runs an article by reporter
                    Mark Hale. The article repeats statements from Mr.
                    Berman's earlier stories, which the suit cites
                    as untrue.