On Monday a federal judge denied ESPN’s motion to dismiss a libel suit filed by Laurie Fine, the wife of former associate men’s basketball coach Bernie Fine.

Fine was fired in November of 2011 amid sexual abuse allegations. He was never charged and has denied all accusations.

The suit was filed in response to ESPN’s coverage of Laurie Fine amid sexual abuse allegations against her husband. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn said in his decision that he could not determine if ESPN’s reporting was “fair and true,” according to court documents.

In the ruling, he also said that ESPN’s coverage was a report of official proceedings like a Syracuse Police Department investigation, but that the network didn’t describe the conclusions of the investigation.

The request for dismissal was filed last August, and the case will “move forward” after the motion’s denial, said Lawrence Fisher, Laurie Fine’s attorney.

“Today, we were given the green light to hold ESPN responsible,” Fisher said.

ESPN could say its reporting was fair and true and not “grossly irresponsible” in defense of the dismissal motion, Fisher said. But until Kahn said he couldn’t declare the reporting as such, he wasn’t able to move forward until ESPN’s motion to dismiss the suit was denied, he said.

“She is extremely happy with today’s decision,” Fisher said of Fine.

Fisher said Laurie Fine will continue to argue that ESPN’s coverage was neither fair nor true, but grossly irresponsible.

David Scott, a spokesman for ESPN, said that the network “stands behind” the reporting.

ESPN’s lawyer, Nathan Siegel, didn’t immediately return a phone call or email requesting a comment on the ruling.

Published on March 31, 2014 at 9:08 pm

Contact Jacob: jspramuk@syr.edu