Newspaper Sued For Libel

A small weekly newspaper in the Bayside communities of Galveston County is being sued by the local water board, the San Leon Utility Trust (SLUT) for libelous comments. According to documents obtained at the courthouse, the members of the water district are alleging that the weekly Evil Point Press made "derogatory and libelous" statements about officials, "knowingly and intentionally" in several issues published in March and April of this year.
The newspaper reported on allegations of vote-fixing, under-the-table deals, and malfeasance. They stated that the SLUT was inherently dishonest, and that residents no longer trust the SLUT. They also believe the SLUT has charged them too much money. Some citizens, the paper said, think the SLUT belongs in jail.
An attorney for the board filed the suit May 3, seeking an undisclosed sum and printed retractions.
Legal observers anticipate that the suit could be expanded to include additional publications who may carry or have carried derogatory stories about the SLUT. It is against the law for a newspaper to say that the dishonest thieving bastards are screwing the fuck out of everybody in San Leon, and any publisher who does so may be liable for damages to these crooked bastards.