Sharon Loses Libel Case by JOHN M
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Sharon loses libel case By JOHN M. DOYLE that they lied," said Sharon of his $50 Yesterday's verdict was crucial because Associated Press Writer million lawsuit. although the jury, which had been Sharon claimed a Feb. 21, 1983, Time deliberating since Jan. 14, had found for NEW YORK — A federal jury decided cover story libeled him in reporting he Sharon on the two earlier points, he also had yesterday that Time magazine did not libel "discussed" revenge for the assassination to show malice and damage to his former Israeli Defense Minister Ariel of Lebanon's president-elect, Bashir reputation to prove libel. iL—BSw t_'I_J , Sharon when it linked him to a massacre of Gemayel — who headed the Phalangists — If the jury had found "actual malice," a * v Mi ,i< " Time one day before the Christian militiamen TtfRf Palestinians, but it said some. mini-trial would have been held to employees were careless in putting together massacred hundreds of Palestinians at two determine if Sharon's reputation was the story. refugee camps in Israeli-occupied west injured by the article and how much in The six-person jury decided that Time did Beirut. damages he should be paid. not show "actual malice" in publishing a After'announcing the verdict, the jury In a written statement, the magazine disputed paragraph , which it earlier found foreman, Richard Peter Zug, read a said, "Time feels strongly that the case to be both defamatory and false. For statement in which the jurors said certain should never have reached an American "actual malice," it would have had to be Time employees, especially Jerusalem courtroom. It was brought by a foreign proven that Time published the paragraph correspondent David Halevy, acted politician attempting to recoup his political knowing it was false or with "reckless "negligently and carelessly in reporting fortunes." disregard" of whether it was true or false. and verifying the information which Despite the setback, Sharon, 56, now Both sides claimed victory. ultimately found its way" into the disputed minister of industry and trade, was , "A lawsuit is very much like a war," said paragraph. unbowed after the trial, which began Nov. Time attorney Thomas D. Barr. "Who wins The jurors Were taken from the 13. In a news conference on the courthouse the battle is not particularly important. courtroom shortly after the verdict and steps he noted his earlier victories on the Who wins the war is terribly important. The were not immediately available for falsity and defamation issues. war is over and we won." comment. "I feel that we achieved what it was that "We came in order to prove that Time Halevy, 43, a native Israeli who testified brought us here. I respect the American magazine lied and we managed to prove at the trial, was not present. judicial system." he said. » f* ,*« i l Union Carbide knew of danger Memo indicated possibte ' runa wa y reaction ' .of chemical By DAVID GOELLER corrective "action plan" to be developed 3,000 pounds of the gas still remaining in Associated Press Writer within 60 days. Institute. i- 'wtow- "88 The safety team concluded that "a real The internal document was released by WASHINGTON - Union Carbide Corp. potential for a serious incident exists" at Rep. Henry A Waxman, who said he did not s„s&m$ knew of the possibility of a "runaway the MIC unit and questioned whether know whether corrective action was taken reaction" of methyl isocyanate at its response to one would be "timely or in West Virginia or whether the team's pesticide plant in West Virginia less than effective enough to prevent catastrophic findings were even made known to plant three months before at least 2,000 people failure of the (MIC storage) tank." officials in Bhopal. •ft,*** j& were killed by a massive leak of the But the team added that it did not "They're warning about the exact same chemical from its sister plant in Bhopal, consider the problems "imminent hazards thing that happened in Bhopal," Waxman India , according to an internal memo requiring immediate correction." told a news conference. "It looks like released yesterday. On Dec. 3, an estimated 45 tons of MIC there's a possibility Bhopal could have been The memo, prepared by a Union Carbide escaped from the Bhopal facility, which avoided. If nothing was done, I find this a i<«j 5*ftJiS?3^^Sl^"S^^y safety inspection team and received by the Union Carbide officials have said has the very distressing situation." '^* r:^%%- -|£«*5c.,; manager of the Institute, W.Va., plant last same safety and operating procedures as There was no immediate word from Sept. 19, warned ofvtwo "major'! concerns the West Virginia plant. Union Carbide about what action may have Collegian Photo/Michael Houtz about toxic chemicals at the facility. Following the Bhopal tragedy, Union been taken to address the memo's concerns. The team cited "the possibility of a Carbide closed the India plant and the MIC- Dick Henderson, a spokesman at the C/ty at night runaway reaction in the MIC unit storage producing portion of its Institute facility. Institute plant, said the safety team plays East Beaver Avenue by the light of the street lamps. The streak of light in the lower left of the tanks" and said corporate rules required a Yesterday, the company began neutralizing "a devil's advocate. " picture is caused by car headlights during an extended exposure of the photo. Professor fails to return from Chile By KIM AJECK Weisfeiler did board a plane for Chile. It has not The public affairs officer for the State Collegian Staff Writer yet been determined if the professor boarded a Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, plane for the return trip. Richard Weeks, said he could not comment on a A University math professor^who spent "I'm not really optimistic," Lallement said. specific case. However, he did say in cases such Christmas break backpacking in Chile was "I'm wondering what happened." as this Chilean authorities are contacted to try to reported missing after he did not return for the He said Weisfeiler often goes on such trips and find the person. fi rst day of classes, the head of the math has extensive hiking experience. Lallement said he is aware of a rumor that department said yesterday. "We decided to wait a few days before taking Weisfeiler's wallet has been found in a Boris Weisfeiler, 43, of 250 Toftrees Ave., left any action," he said. "After four or five days we campground in Chile, but the State department Dec. 24, 1984 for a hiking expedition in a remote became worried and we contacted the state has not confirmed this information. area of Southern Chile, Gerard Lallement said. departni' nt." Weisfeiler was scheduled to teach Lallement discovered that Weisfeiler went to A repr ientative from the U.S. State Mathematics 435 and Special Topics 597, a Chile after questioning the professor's friends Department contacts Lallement daily. graduate student course, Lallement said. He said when he failed to return to teach Jan. 14. The representative believes a search party is Roger Ware is teaching Mathematics 435, but no "This was absolutely unexpected," Lallement combing the area where the professor is thought one has taken Weisfeiler's position in Special said, adding that Weisfeiler is a reliable man. to have been hiking. Topics 597. Lallement said the professor was not expected The State Department notified the U.S. Lallement added that students who registered back earlier than the first day of classes because Embassy in Chile and Lallement said he is for the special topics course were encouraged not he had no advising duties. considering contacting the Chilean Embassy in to drop it, but if the professor does not return He said someone from the math department the United States to see that proper action is within a reasonable amount of time, those checked with the airlines and found that being taken. students will be permitted to drop the course. Board proposes Fairmount festival site By PATTI DIACONT She added that booths would be vehicle access to the blocked-off "I am very pleased that they kept Collegian Staff Writer along Pollock Road, the^ west side of area. town and gown together," she said. the Old Main Mall and on Allen The festival board's first proposal "I hope that both (the festival A proposal to close off a section of Street including the section of requested the closing of two blocks organizers and the University ) Fairmount Avenue for this year's Fairmount Avenue. of College Avenue and locating agree to it," Haas said. Central Pennsylvania Festival of "I assume that the proposal will booths on the west side of Old Main Council member R. Thomas the Arts could end the struggle for be accepted because we were Mall to avoid further damage to Berner said he favors the proposal, festival organizers to make up for sensitive to those things that elm trees on the east side. In but added that he "doesn't agree space lost at the University. weren't appropriate before," previous years, both sides of the with those arts festival officials who The proposal, to be considered by Farrell said. Mall contained booths. think that going down side streets State College Borough Council Feb. Last month, Council rejected the Council President Mary Ann will discourage festival goers." 4, would close Fairmount Avenue festival board's request to close off Haas said she has received a copy "I myself, as someone who walks Collegaln Pholo / Jell Buslran between South Allen and South College Avenue when fire, police of the proposal and thinks it "is a the festival several times, am Fraser streets, said Pat Farrell, and transportation officials said the very good idea because it keeps the happy to get off the beaten path and Restaurant fire president of the festival board.