News Update
Former ESPN, radio sports analyst files lawsuit against Gawker Media in Denton County
By Danny Gallagher, McKinney Courier-Gazette
A former ESPN analyst and Dallas sports radio personality has filed a civil lawsuit in Denton County against the owner of a popular sports blog for causing him to lose both of his jobs and damaging his reputation.
Sean Salisbury, a Frisco resident and former National Football League quarterback, filed a petition for a civil defamation lawsuit in a Denton County court against Gawker Media for publishing several false stories on their sports blog Deadspin.com that cost him several jobs, ruined his reputation and made it difficult to find gainful employment.
Salisbury's attorney, Jeffrey Tillotson of the Dallas law firm Lynn, Tillotson, Pinker & Cox, said in the petition that Deadspin has waged a "long-running smear campaign" against his client since January of 2007.
The blog first alleged on Jan. 6, 2007 that ESPN suspended Salisbury for taking indecent photos of himself with his cell phone and showing it to several female co-workers. The post quoted a story written by CBS Sportsline columnist Mike Freeman on Dec. 27, 2006 who did not identify the analyst by name. The post also quoted The Big Lead, another sports blog, who identified Salisbury as the suspended analyst based on information from an "insider."
Tillotson said Deadspin continued to post the "lie" on four separate occasions including in posts on Sept. 11 following Salisbury's departure from 105.3 FM The Fan, a Dallas sports radio station.
"Deadspin falsely stated, 'According to one source close to the station, Salisbury freaked out a station promo girl after sexting her," the petition read.
The blog also provided a link to a Dallas Observer blog, Richie Whitt's Sportatorium, that said in an "update" post regarding Salisbury's departure that "sexting wasn't involved."
Tillotson said Deadspin continued to publish the story as part of their "smear campaign" against Salisbury.
"Unburdened by the truth or any pretense of journalistic standards, Deadspin ignored the facts and instead repeated the malicious lie that Mr. Salisbury 'allegedly' engaged in 'sexting,' which prompting his firing," the petition read. "In the weeks since Mr. Salisbury's departure from The Fan, Deadspin has continued to taunt Mr. Salisbury in emails from Deadspin contributors and has even mockingly asked Mr. Salisbury why he has not filed suit. Deadspin now has its answer."
Todd Harlow, a member of Salisbury's counsel on the civil lawsuit, said a memo from CBS, The Fan's parent company, stated Salisbury left the radio station as part of a "mutual agreement" that contained "no allegations of impropriety." He also said Salisbury voluntarily left ESPN for reasons he could not divulge.
Harlow said the suit singled out Gawker as a defendant because of their "concerted" efforts to single out their client, despite the reporting of others.
"What we hope to prove is that blog sites like Deadspin are accountable," he said. "They can't simply attack someone and make a concerted effort to destroy the lives and careers of people without any ramifications. The difference between other news outlets and Deadspin is at least the other news outlets try to get it right. We hope to make a statement that if sites are going to behave like this, there are consequences and they are long overdue for that."
Attempts were made to reach a representative of Gawker Media for comment. Tommy Craggs, a senior writer for Deadspin, said he could not comment on the lawsuit at this time.
Blaine Crimmins contributed to this report.
Contact Danny Gallagher at dgallagher@acnpapers.com.
Sean Salisbury, a Frisco resident and former National Football League quarterback, filed a petition for a civil defamation lawsuit in a Denton County court against Gawker Media for publishing several false stories on their sports blog Deadspin.com that cost him several jobs, ruined his reputation and made it difficult to find gainful employment.
Salisbury's attorney, Jeffrey Tillotson of the Dallas law firm Lynn, Tillotson, Pinker & Cox, said in the petition that Deadspin has waged a "long-running smear campaign" against his client since January of 2007.
The blog first alleged on Jan. 6, 2007 that ESPN suspended Salisbury for taking indecent photos of himself with his cell phone and showing it to several female co-workers. The post quoted a story written by CBS Sportsline columnist Mike Freeman on Dec. 27, 2006 who did not identify the analyst by name. The post also quoted The Big Lead, another sports blog, who identified Salisbury as the suspended analyst based on information from an "insider."
Tillotson said Deadspin continued to post the "lie" on four separate occasions including in posts on Sept. 11 following Salisbury's departure from 105.3 FM The Fan, a Dallas sports radio station.
"Deadspin falsely stated, 'According to one source close to the station, Salisbury freaked out a station promo girl after sexting her," the petition read.
The blog also provided a link to a Dallas Observer blog, Richie Whitt's Sportatorium, that said in an "update" post regarding Salisbury's departure that "sexting wasn't involved."
Tillotson said Deadspin continued to publish the story as part of their "smear campaign" against Salisbury.
"Unburdened by the truth or any pretense of journalistic standards, Deadspin ignored the facts and instead repeated the malicious lie that Mr. Salisbury 'allegedly' engaged in 'sexting,' which prompting his firing," the petition read. "In the weeks since Mr. Salisbury's departure from The Fan, Deadspin has continued to taunt Mr. Salisbury in emails from Deadspin contributors and has even mockingly asked Mr. Salisbury why he has not filed suit. Deadspin now has its answer."
Todd Harlow, a member of Salisbury's counsel on the civil lawsuit, said a memo from CBS, The Fan's parent company, stated Salisbury left the radio station as part of a "mutual agreement" that contained "no allegations of impropriety." He also said Salisbury voluntarily left ESPN for reasons he could not divulge.
Harlow said the suit singled out Gawker as a defendant because of their "concerted" efforts to single out their client, despite the reporting of others.
"What we hope to prove is that blog sites like Deadspin are accountable," he said. "They can't simply attack someone and make a concerted effort to destroy the lives and careers of people without any ramifications. The difference between other news outlets and Deadspin is at least the other news outlets try to get it right. We hope to make a statement that if sites are going to behave like this, there are consequences and they are long overdue for that."
Attempts were made to reach a representative of Gawker Media for comment. Tommy Craggs, a senior writer for Deadspin, said he could not comment on the lawsuit at this time.
Blaine Crimmins contributed to this report.
Contact Danny Gallagher at dgallagher@acnpapers.com.
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