Register Parent Sues Former Circulation Chief
Freedom Newspapers Inc. responded to a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Orange County Register circulation executive Patrick Elster by accusing him of using company funds to pay for personal trips and expenses.
In a cross-complaint filed in Orange County Superior Court, Freedom Newspapers contends that Elster spent $18,000 on air fare and hotels and drew about $6,000 in cash advances for personal use while employed as vice president of circulation at the Register.
The cross-complaint, essentially a separate lawsuit, seeks $25,000 in damages.
Freedom owns the Santa Ana-based newspaper and numerous other small daily newspapers as well as several television stations.
Last month, Elster sued the company for unspecified damages, alleging that he was terminated to settle a costly lawsuit filed by a group of independent dealers. The dealers were dismissed when the Register decided to use employees to stock stores and street racks with newspapers.
Elster also accused the publishing firm of slandering him by falsely implicating him in a scandal over inflated Register circulation figures last year.
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