Former Hartford Courant business editor sues paper

George Gombossy, the former business editor of the Hartford Courant who had written a consumer watchdog column for the paper the last three years, has sued the paper over his firing this summer.

Gombossy writes, “The suit was filed in Hartford Superior Court under the Connecticut free speech statute that protects workers from retribution for exercising their First Amendment rights in the workplace. It is the strongest free speech statute in the country.

“This is the first time that the statute has been used to challenge a media company’s attempt to protect its advertisers from adverse publicity.

“‘This lawsuit is not only important to my client, it is vital to the people of Connecticut,’ attorney Garrison said in a prepared statement.

“The free speech statute, Garrison said, ‘is the very essence of being an American, having the right to speak out in the workplace, especially on issues vital to the public.'”

Read more here. Gombossy has since started a consumer watchdog Web site.