Tribune creditor group alleges fraud in 2007 deal

WILMINGTON, Del. -- A group of creditors in Tribune Co.'s bankruptcy case is alleging that greed and misconduct of its lenders, advisers and own leaders created the company's downfall.

Tribune's unsecured creditors filed two complaints late Monday in an attempt to recover billions of dollars.

The complaints in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., target major principals involved in a debt-laden $8.2 billion deal that turned over one of the nation's oldest media empires to real estate mogul Sam Zell in 2007. Tribune Co.'s holdings include the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and more than 20 broadcast stations.

Zell, now Tribune's chairman, is named as defendants along with other board members and the buyout's lenders, led by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Tribune and JPMorgan did not immediately respond to requests for comment.