Liability, awards and settlements

15.11, libel

US: a jury ordered a suburban Chicago newspaper to pay $7mn to the chief justice of the state Supreme Court for a series of articles that he alleged were untrue and damaged his reputation and career. The jury ruled against the Kane County Chronicle and former columnist Bill Page in the libel suit filed by Chief Justice Robert Thomas, a former Chicago Bears football player. The judge sued after Mr Page wrote in 2003 that the judge had softened his position in a disciplinary hearing for a former state attorney after supporters of the state attorney backed a judicial candidate he favoured. Justice Thomas, who was elevated to Chief Justice last year, testified that Mr Page’s columns “went completely over the line” and accused him of a crime. Mr Page has said he relied on confidential sources for the articles.