LOS ANGELES : Order for Source Disclosure in Dangerfield Story Upheld
A federal appeals court in San Francisco on Thursday upheld a Los Angeles trial judge’s order requiring the tabloid newspaper the Star to disclose the names of confidential sources who provided information for a September, 1990, article that portrayed comedian Rodney Dangerfield in a highly unflattering light.
The article--whose headline alleged “Vegas casino accuses Caddyshack funnyman: Rodney Dangerfield ‘Swills Vodka by the Tumbleful’ ” and used drugs--was based in part on quotes attributed to four unnamed Caesars Palace employees.
Dangerfield filed a libel suit in Los Angeles, alleging that the Star published the article with knowledge that the quotations were false, misleading and defamatory.
U.S. District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew ordered the Star to turn over the names of the confidential sources. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld Lew.
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