Newark editor, publisher suing business that retaliated after coverage

The editor and publisher of the Newark Star-Ledger claim a disgruntled businessman who was featured in the newspaper is using their names in an Internet domain that directs users to hard-core pornography, reports Cheryl Armstrong of the Couthouse News Service.

Armstrong writes, “Editor Kevin Whitmer and publisher Richard Vezza sued Alfred Demola and Domains by Proxy LLC in Federal Court, alleging harassment, cybersquatting, cyberpiracy and privacy violations.

“The newspaper itself is not a party to the lawsuit.

“‘Between December 2010 and October 2013, the Ledger published seven articles in the Business section of the Ledger as part of a weekly column entitled ‘Bamboozled’ concerning reports of defendant Demola’s allegedly unscrupulous business practices in his waterproofing businesses,’ the complaint states.

“The articles by freelance columnist Karin Price Mueller were based on customer complaints about alleged failure to return deposits and shoddy workmanship.

“‘On September 10, 2013, Demola contacted Ms. Mueller by phone after Ms. Mueller left him voicemail messages to offer Demola a chance to comment on a story that she was preparing concerning his business practices. He demanded that she stop writing about him,’ the lawsuit states.”

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