PITTSBURGH – An electric contractor alleges that a pair of broadcast news stories which reported that he overcharged a 90-year-old McCandless resident by more than $1,000 were untrue, and as a result his business lost money and his reputation was damaged.
Thomas Waldron filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on June 16 versus WPXI, LLC of Pittsburgh and COX Media Group Inc. of Atlanta, Ga.
“On Sept. 4, 2019 and Sept. 25, 2019, WPXI ran stories on its local television news broadcasts that involved Waldron and complaints by a resident of McCandless against him and his business. During the story on Sept. 4, 2019 the introduction of the story claimed that Waldron had ‘targeted’ a 90 year-old man. The introduction also states that Waldron overcharged the 90 year-old man by over $1,000,” the suit says.
“During the broadcast, the WPXI reporter goes on to state that the 90 year-old man in question signed a contract for the amount he was charged contrary to the prior statements of overcharging. Subsequently, on Sept. 25, 2019, WPXI-TV again broadcast a story regarding Waldron, which, during the lead-in, they claimed other customers had reached out to them after the Sept. 4, 2019 story, claiming Waldron had done the same to them. No proof was ever provided of this contact or information other than broad allegations against Waldron.”
Officer Mike Metzker of the McCandless Township Police Department was also quoted during the Sept. 25 broadcast, the suit says, where he claimed contrary to representations by Waldron’s counsel aired earlier in the segment, that Mr. Waldron did not do the work that he was paid for.
“WPXI aired this statement by Officer Metzker, despite having full knowledge based on the prior broadcast that Waldron did the work prescribed in the contract signed by the 90 year-old individual for the amount charged. The WPXI reporter at the conclusion of the broadcast segment then claimed the Attorney General’s Office was also looking into Waldron regarding this incident. After resolving this issue with the 90 year-old individual previously referenced, Waldron had the charges expunged,” per the suit.
“Dated March 16, 2021 April 16, 2021 and May 17, 2021, Waldron, through counsel, advised WPXI that this matter had been expunged and requested that the misleading story be taken down. No response was ever given to Waldron or his counsel regarding this matter. WPXI and Cox Media Group are both aware that the stories continue to remain on their website accessible to any broad Internet search for Waldron or his business Waldron Electric, and can easily be found by someone. Cox Media Group and WPXI are both aware that the stories in question as constituted contain known inaccuracies and errors.”
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of the arbitration limits of Allegheny County, inclusive of fees and costs deemed appropriate by this Court.
The plaintiff is represented by David C. Brumfield of Alpern Schubert, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-21-006860
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com