ABC News’s decision to settle a food libel lawsuit over its “pink slime” report sends a dangerous signal that a powerful mainstream news organization is unwilling fight to vindicate its reporting.
And that sends a signal of vulnerability that may invite frivolous libel lawsuits and crippling legal expenses, experts warn.
“Does the settlement send a message to potential litigants, who perhaps have only spurious claims, to move forward with filing suits?” said University of Minnesota journalism professor Jane Kirtley. “Probably.”
“I always regret when a news organization, especially one who could mount a credible defense and has solid financial resources, elects to settle,” Kirtley told TheWrap.