Court-Martialed Navy Man Sues Times
A Navy skipper court-martialed last year after his warship ran aground in Hawaii has filed a libel lawsuit against the Los Angeles Times for printing articles quoting both unnamed and official Navy sources who accused him of being drunk at the time.
Willard G. (Bud) Chrisman, a decorated 20-year veteran, is asking for $7 million in damages for “loss of his reputation, shame, mortification and hurt feelings” because of seven articles published in The Times between May 20 and Oct. 7, 1984.
The Navy charged Chrisman with 13 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice after his 13,000-ton warship ran aground in Hawaii on Jan. 24, 1984. During the court-martial, witnesses testified that Chrisman appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol during the incident.
Chrisman said he was suffering from food poisoning but he admitted during the court-martial that he had consumed four beers on the day of the incident.
A Navy judge on Oct. 6 acquitted Chrisman of the charges. Instead, the judge found Chrisman guilty of “negligently hazarding” the amphibious assault ship and ordered that a letter of reprimand be put into his career file.
An attorney for The Times said Monday he could not comment, because he had not seen the suit.
The suit against The Times was filed Friday.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
