Referee's Lawsuit Against Kentucky Sports Radio Dismissed On First Amendment Grounds

Suit Dismissed

The defamation lawsuit against the regionally-syndicated KENTUCKY SPORTS RADIO, host MATT JONES, and KSR website Managing Editor DREW FRANKLIN by a basketball referee has been dismissed by a KENTUCKY judge.

The LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER reports that U.S. District Judge JOSEPH M. HOOD dismissed the case WEDNESDAY (3/20) brought by JOHN HIGGINS, his wife CAROL, and their WEATHERGUARD, INC. (a/k/a ROOFEREES.COM) against JONES, FRANKLIN, and the radio show for allegedly prompting UNIV.OF KENTUCKY basketball fans to post negative reviews of the referee's roofing business and make harassing calls after KENTUCKY's loss to NORTH CAROLINA in a 2007 NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite Eight quarterfinal and coach JOHN CALIPARI's criticism of the refereeing.

HOOD dismissed the case on First Amendment grounds, saying that while the plaintiff's damages "are real," the criticism was protected speech.

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