Jacobson sues CBS over her NBC firing

A former Chicago newscaster is suing a television station for losing her job - but not the station she worked for.

Instead, Amy Jacobson, a former reporter for NBC-5, is suing CBS-2, alleging a reporter there who was tired of getting scooped conspired to ruin her reputation.

CBS denies the accusations.

Jacobson was filmed in July 2007 in a bikini top and a towel at the home of Craig Stebic in Plainfield. Stebic is considered a person of interest by police in the disappearance of his wife, Lisa Stebic. Jacobson was the NBC-5 reporter assigned to the story.

Jacobson alleges that a neighbor with a grudge against Stebic phoned CBS-2 bureau chief Mike Puccinelli to let him know Jacobson was at the home in pool wear. The suit alleges the neighbor, not CBS-2, was the one who filmed Jacobson and her two children at the home. Puccinelli, the suit claims, showed up and copied the neighbor's tape and shot some more footage of Stebic's yard on his own.

The suit alleges that when Puccinelli let his supervisors know of Jacobson's presence at the Stebic house, a supervisor shot back, "Why is she there and you aren't?"

After the footage aired, Jacobson was subjected to a barrage of criticism for going too far in pursuit of a story. Although it was never made explicitly clear whether she was fired or resigned, Jacobson told Sun-Times columnist Robert Feder, "If a tape didn't exist, I know I would still have my job," implying at least some pressure to leave.

Jacobson contends in her lawsuit, filed Monday in Cook County Circuit Court, that she was on her way to swim with her children elsewhere when she was suddenly invited over to the Stebic home to discuss the case. She took the children, aged 2 and 3, with her and she herself swam at the Stebic home "because neither child could swim."

CBS-2 defamed her, Stebic claims, because it juxtaposed a shot of her in the bikini top and a shot of Stebic putting on his shirt, even though the two were never in proximity to one another that day in that state of dress.

The inference, she contends, is defamatory and implies that she and Stebic were having an affair.

Jacobson, who had made a career out of investigating others and their pursuits at a salary of over $100,000 per year, is also suing on a count of "intrusion upon seclusion," alleging the filming of her in the back yard "intruded into private matters of plaintiffs." Jacobson has listed her husband and children as co-plaintiffs, referring to her children as "John Doe and James Doe."

Jacobson's suit was filed by Oak Brook attorney Kathleen T. Zellner, who could not be reached for comment Monday.

Elizabeth Abrams, director of communications for CBS-2, refused to speak about the lawsuit.

"CBS-2 stands by its reporting. Ms. Jacobson's claims have NO merit and we look forward to vigorously defending ourselves in court."