Judge Gives Green Light to Some of Dan Rather's Claims Against CBS
Former CBS news anchor Dan Rather can proceed with a claim that his ex-employer breached its contract with him and damaged his reputation by firing him after a controversial 60 Minutes weeknight edition report in 2004 about President George W. Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard.
But a New York trial judge nixed the newsman’s fraud claim against CBS Corp., reports Bloomberg. And supreme court Judge Ira Gammerman also held that Rather can’t pursue a claim against the network’s onetime parent, Viacom Inc., for alleged interference with contractual relations.
Plus, the judge ruled that Rather can’t sue CBS for breach of fiduciary duty, notes the Los Angeles Times.
However, Gammerman’s decision “allows us to prove everything we need to prove to a jury,” Rather’s lead attorney, Martin Gold, tells the newspaper. “I think the breach-of-contract claim is essentially a slam-dunk.”
Lawyers for CBS also proclaimed victory, pointing out that Rather can now proceed with only two of his remaining four claims. (The network had sought dismissal of three of the four claims.)
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Judge Says Dan Rather Can Subpoena CBS Investigator”
ABAJournal.com: “Judge Throws Out Half of Dan Rather Suit Against CBS”
ABAJournal.com: “Dan Rather Sues CBS for $70 Million”
