Libel suits filed on behalf of Dana...

Libel suits filed on behalf of Dana Kirk, the former basketball coach at Memphis State, against the Memphis Commercial Appeal and Houston’s restaurants have been dismissed by a circuit court judge.

Judge Wyeth Chandler said Kirk had submitted no proof that the city’s morning newspaper or the restaurant chain had acted with malice or a reckless disregard for the truth in developing and publishing the article Kirk claimed libeled him.

The suit involved a story reporting that Kirk had seated himself ahead of other customers at one of the restaurants.