Appeals Run Out for Hoiles: The state...

Appeals Run Out for Hoiles: The state Supreme Court rejected an appeal from dissident Freedom Newspapers shareholder Harry H. Hoiles, ending years of litigation against his sister’s and his late brother’s families to break up the Irvine media concern by taking one-third of its assets. The court’s unanimous decision keeps intact previous rulings against Hoiles, who had claimed that he was entitled to his share after the majority reneged on a promise to make him Freedom’s chief executive. The majority argued that he proved himself incapable of running the firm and was entitled only to the value of his minority stake, not to actual assets. The firm owns the Orange County Register, 26 smaller dailies, 25 weeklies and five television stations.