BOSTON, (December 16, 2024)– Saul Ewing LLP today announced it has secured a $1.1 million settlement on behalf of Carlo DeMaria, Mayor of the City of Everett, Mass., in his defamation lawsuit against the Everett Leader Herald, its owner, and its publisher and editor. Saul Ewing Partners Jeffrey S. Robbins, Joseph D. Lipchitz, and Paige V. Schroeder represented Mayor DeMaria in his lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed three years ago, alleged the newspaper engaged in a campaign to disparage the Mayor’s reputation over the course of several years, accusing him of crimes the defendants knew to be false. Partner Jeffrey Robbins stated, “The evidence that is in the public record shows that these were articles conceived for the purpose of taking out somebody who the defendants felt was acting unfavorable to the business interests of the owner of the paper.” Records uncovered through discovery showed that the paper's publisher and editor admitted to knowingly reporting falsehoods and fabricating quotes.
As part of the settlement, the defendants have agreed to permanently cease publication of the 139-year-old Leader Herald within seven days due to the inaccurate stories that negatively impacted Mayor DeMaria’s reputation. In exchange for the defendants' payment and their decision to close the newspaper, Mayor DeMaria has agreed to forgo the trial of his defamation case, which was set to begin on January 21, 2025, in Middlesex Superior Court.
Mayor DeMaria is gratified by the settlement and looks forward to continuing his work on behalf of the citizens of Everett.
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