Newspaper, judge settle over libel case
A former Kane County Chronicle columnist remained defiant Thursday after the newspaper settled for $3 million a libel lawsuit that it lost to Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Thomas.
Bill Page said his side could not introduce key evidence about large political donations to justices during the 2006 trial, and that Thomas' colleagues changed their testimony on the witness stand from what they said under oath in depositions.
"It was (nonsense) from the start and I don't apologize for a … thing," Page said, adding Thomas will receive $3 million in the settlement. "This is the most disgusting abuse of judicial power."
In November 2006, a Kane County jury awarded Thomas, a former Bears place-kicker, $7 million after it found Page, the Geneva-based Chronicle and its parent company were responsible for libel.
In 2003, Page wrote a series of columns accusing Thomas of abusing his power to gain support for a friend running for a Kane County judgeship. Page claimed Thomas would agree to a reduced punishment for then-Kane County State's Attorney Meg Gorecki -- who was facing ethics violations -- in exchange for support of his candidate.
A trial judge later reduced the jury award to $4 million, but each side continued to file a volley of appeals and countersuits.
Stephen J. Rosenfeld, an attorney representing the Chronicle and Shaw Media Group, said that as part of Thursday's settlement, Shaw will drop its appeal, the federal lawsuit it filed will be dismissed, and Thomas' countersuit will be dropped.
Rosenfeld's office also issued a joint statement from Thomas, Page and Tom Shaw, president and CEO of the Chronicle.
"Mr. Thomas, the Chronicle, and Mr. Page have now agreed that the public interest is best served by a spirit of reconciliation and the settling of the dispute," part of the statement read.
"The newspaper regrets publishing statements that the jury found to be false and in relying on sources who, based on the jury verdict, provided information that was not true regarding Mr. Thomas's role in the Gorecki case. The Chronicle and Mr. Page apologize to Mr. Thomas," the statement continued. "Mr. Thomas affirms his support for the role of a free press in informing, the public about all branches of government, including the judiciary, as well as his commitment to equal treatment under law for all litigants in the Illinois courts."
Added Rosenfeld: "The old adage is that a good settlement is when both sides walk away from the table a little bit unhappy, and I think that's the case here."
Joe Power, Thomas' attorney, could not be reached for comment. Shaw could not immediately be reached for comment.
Page said he was proud he did not rat out his sources, whom he described as "trusted, honest and accurate." He said he has yet to meet someone in the public who thought what he did was wrong.
"I can sleep at night. I can hold my head up high because I kept my sources confidential and I was right," Page said. "The guy (Thomas) got $3 million -- good for him."