American Fork city, publisher win suit

PROVO — After a four-year court battle, a Provo judge ruled Friday in favor of American Fork city officials and a weekly newspaper and its then-publisher who were sued by a disgruntled resident after the 1999 City Council elections.

"It has been a long four and a half years, but my actions have finally been vindicated in every point," said Brett Bezzant, former publisher of the American Fork Citizen newspaper.

At the heart of the case: Bezzant published an editorial in 1999 that contradicted claims that American Fork resident William Jacob had made in a paid advertisement in the newspaper about two candidates running for American Fork's City Council.

That spurred Jacob, who used the ad to question the eligibility of council candidates Ricky Storrs and Tom Hunter, to file suit against the city and Bezzant.

The suit alleged Bezzant and city officials conspired to violate his constitutional rights. Jacob also claimed in court documents the newspaper defamed him.

After Jacob filed suit, Bezzant filed a counterclaim, saying Jacob's lawsuit was an attempt to chill his First Amendment rights.

Fourth District Court Judge Lynn Davis issued a written ruling on Friday that Utah's Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) statute was applicable to this case — the first time the statute has been tested in the courts.