‘Inside Edition’ Crew Banned From Trial

Reacting to a witness’s objection, a Superior Court judge denied a camera crew from the television show “Inside Edition” permission to videotape testimony in a $5-million palimony suit Monday because the program is the “expose type.”

“Inside Edition” is “not considered to be news media,” Judge Florence T. Pickard stated in a written order.

“This court considers this form of media to be of the expose type.”

The ruling came during a trial involving a suit brought by Eleanor (Lorraine) Oliver against the estate of the late multimillionaire Henry T. Mudd.

Oliver claims she and Mudd had a contract whereby she would provide companionship and he would set up trusts to support her for life and allow her to live rent free in a Studio City house. She claims he reneged when he revoked the trusts shortly before his death.

Executors of his estate, however, deny any contract existed, point out that Oliver was one of seven of Mudd’s mistresses and claim that Mudd and Oliver’s relationship was based primarily on sex for pay.

“Inside Edition” representatives said they had valid press passes issued by the Los Angeles Police Department and called Pickard’s decision “ridiculous.”

“We’re a very legitimate news organization,” said Malcolm Boyes, a producer with the show. “We are somewhat offended.”

The show describes itself as a “news magazine,” but critics have labeled it “tabloid television.”

Only one video camera is allowed inside the courtroom at a time, and “Inside Edition” served as the pool photographer Friday, providing feeds to other organizations on the testimony in the suit.

Oliver’s ex-husband, Vincent Oliver, was scheduled to testify Monday but he told Pickard in her chambers that he objected to the “Inside Edition” camera, which was already set up, according to the courtroom bailiff.

Bailiff Mike Kinney told the “Inside Edition” cameraman, “The judge has told me the court doesn’t consider this a news source.” Instead of dismantling the entire setup of cameras and wires, the “Inside Edition” crew agreed to let reporters from CNN use their equipment to save time.

Even as preparations were made for the switch in crews, the dispute continued as Vincent Oliver told the cameraman to hurry.

“Take your camera and get out of here, jerk,” Oliver said.

“Inside Edition” continued to take CNN’s feed of the day’s testimony and will proceed with plans to air a story on the case this week, Boyes said. He said he may request a meeting with Pickard in her chambers or submit another request to videotape within the courtroom.

Greg LaMotte, a CNN correspondent, said he was amazed by Pickard’s decision.

“I’ve never seen them say, ‘You specifically can’t shoot in my courtroom because you’re not a bona fide news organization.’ ”

Attorney Donald L. Zachary, who specializes in media law, said that a rule set by a California Supreme Court judiciary committee allows media to cover court proceedings with the judge’s permission.

While Pickard did not violate that rule, he said he believed the judge was allowing her own views to sway her decision instead of “exercising appropriate judicial discretion.”

Pickard was not available for comment.