Appeals Court Rejects Family’s Claim to Bid for Utah Paper
DENVER — A federal appeals court Tuesday refused to stop Denver media magnate Dean Singleton from taking control of Utah’s biggest newspaper, the 132,000 circulation Salt Lake Tribune.
In a two-paragraph ruling, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals said the Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Co., controlled by the McCarthey family of Utah, did not show it was entitled to an injunction to stop Singleton. The McCarthey family and management at the newspaper said they had an option to buy it by July 31.
“After careful consideration of the arguments therein, in light of applicable legal authority, we conclude the plaintiff has not demonstrated its entitlement to injunctive relief,” the appeals court judges said.
Denver-based MediaNews, a privately owned chain headed by Singleton, bought the Utah publication in early 2001 from AT&T; Corp., but the McCarthey family and the newspaper’s management sued.
Tuesday’s decision will allow Singleton to take control of the newspaper on Thursday. The McCarthey family and management had said the newspaper would lose its independence if taken over by Singleton.
The McCartheys and Tribune managers claimed Singleton had become a front for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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