NYT biz editor, chairman ordered to testify in Trump libel case

New York Times business editor Lawrence Ingrassia and company chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. were ordered to testify in a lawsuit against Times business journalist Timothy O’Brien by real estate developer Donald Trump, a judge ruled Monday, writes Bloomberg News’ Jef Feeley.

But, Feeley writes, a Times spokeswoman said that the order doesn’t mean that they will testify or sit for depositions. The Times could seek to quash the order.

Feeley wrote, “O’Brien wrote in his book that Trump, who doesn’t disclose his net worth, was worth from $150 million to $250 million, according to court filings. Trump contends the figure is wrong and the book has cost him business deals by damaging his reputation.

“O’Brien’s lawyers said Trump and his attorneys can’t show the executives have any relevant evidence ‘relating to Mr. O’Brien’s knowledge or reckless disregard of the truth of Mr. Trump’s net worth,’ according to court records.

“Trump’s efforts to depose Sulzberger and the other executives is an ‘attempt to intimidate the Times and Mr. O’Brien,’ Mark Melodia, one of the author’s lawyers, told Kassel. Melodia and Andrew J. Ceresney, also a lawyer for O’Brien, declined to comment after the hearing.”

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