Bad Call Leads to Bad Lawsuit Print
Wednesday, May 25 2011

A longtime NBA official is suing the Associated Press and a basketball reporter for what the official deems to be a libelous tweet.
 
According to news reports, NBA official Bill Spooner is suing the Associated Press and Jon Krawczynski after the reporter tweeted about Spooner's handling of a bad call made during a Timberwolves-Rockets game in January.  Reportedly, Krawczynski announced via Twitter that Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis would "get it back" from Spooner after he made a bad call, robbing the Wolves of two points.  Krawczynski alleged that Spooner later made a bad call to make up for the previous bad call.
 
In a federal lawsuit filed in Minneapolis, Spooner is seeking $75,000 in damages. Spooner claims the Twitter message led to a disciplinary investigation by the NBA and that his professional reputation has been hurt.
 
AP attorney Dave Tomlin said, "We believe all the facts we reported in our coverage of that game, in all media, were accurate."  Tim Frank, the NBA's senior vice president for basketball communications, said the NBA also advised Spooner's attorney that the league didn't think suing a journalist for posting a tweet deemed to be incorrect would be productive.
 
—Source:  ESPN.com