NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana man has filed a lawsuit in federal court against USA Today, alleging one of its local newspapers has continued to publish false articles about him.
Plaintiff Taylor Sagona, a resident of Terrebonne Parish, filed his lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. In his seven-page complaint, Sagona takes aim at defendant USA Today Co. Inc., doing business as The Courier and/or Houma Today.
The Courier, according to its website, is Houma’s source for local news and is Terrebonne Parish’s oldest continuously operating newspaper. It is part of the USA Today network.
“The false statements were made with malice and total disregard for the truth as the Defendant continued to publish the false article although receiving information and evidence of its falsity,” Sagona’s complaint states.
Sagona contends The Courier made false and defamatory statements with malice, and invaded his privacy through presenting in false light in violation of Louisiana Civil Code.
According to his filing, the newspaper published an article entitled, “Man accused of having sex with minor.”
Within the article is not only a photo of Sagona, but also various false statements, he argues.
Among them:
* “Taylor Sagona admitted to detectives that he engaged in in [sic] consensual sexual intercourse with a female more than four years younger than him.”
* “A 17-year-old Bayou Blue man was arrested Friday after admitting he had sex with an underage girl, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said.”
“At no pertinent time therein did Plaintiff admit to engaging in a consensual sexual intercourse with a female more than four years younger than him nor were any formal charges pursued against the Plaintiff,” Sagona’s lawsuit states.
Despite this, the newspaper republished the article on its subscription-based news service, Houma Today, Sagona alleges.
“Plaintiff, individually, and through counsel, advised and communicated with Defendant of the falsity of the statements and presented evidence and information of the same,” his lawsuit states. “Yet, Defendant continued to republish the defamatory article on Houma Today.
“The article is continually accessible and available to any consumer who subscribes to the Defendant’s service at www.houmatoday.com.”
He contends each duplication, sale, or publication of the defamatory article – as well as the threat of continuing the same – constitutes a separate claim against the newspaper.
“Plaintiff has sustained, and will continue to sustain, substantial damage to his personal and professional reputation in that the previously described activities of Defendants have diminished and will continue to diminish his personal, and perhaps more importantly, his professional reputation each of which have been forever diminished in the community which he serves,” his lawsuit states.
Unless enjoined by an order from the federal court, Sagona argues the newspaper will continue to publish the defamatory article, which has caused him "embarrassment and general distress.”
He seeks an injunction permanently enjoining USA Today and The Courier from further publication, actual damages, attorney fees and pre- and post-judgment interest.
The Hayes Law Firm PLC in New Orleans is representing Sagona in the suit.
