Jurisprudence
Jury selection began in Austin, Tex., in the $30 million lawsuit by a newspaper reporter who accuses former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer of libel, slander and invasion of privacy over allegations made in Switzer’s autobiography “Bootlegger’s Boy.”
Jack Taylor Jr., a reporter with the Los Angeles Daily News, and his wife Myrna Lee, are seeking $5 million in damages and a $25 million punitive award.
They allege Switzer, in his book, falsely linked Taylor, formerly of the Dallas Times Herald, to an alleged scheme to plant drugs on Oklahoma football player Brad McBride in 1988.
Switzer’s attorneys claim the facts of the chapter dealing with Taylor are “substantially true.” Switzer also filed a counter lawsuit for $6 million, alleging that Taylor illegally obtained his income tax records.
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