CHARLES TOWN - A Maryland man seeks $10 million in punitive damages after a Martinsburg Journal reporter wrote a story that he says contained false and misleading information about him.
John Urciolo, who also has a residence in Jefferson County, filed a suit March 30 in Jefferson Circuit Court against Citizens Communications Company, Frontier Telecommunications Company, Ogden Newspapers, the Martinsburg Journal, Reed Nelson, Matthew Umstead and Edwin Fultz.
The suit says that on March 30, 2005, Uricolo was arrested and charged with "threats of terrorist acts, conveying false information concerning terrorist acts," in violation of West Virginia Code.
Fultz, of the West Virginia State Police, submitted the charge, which Uricolo claims was based on false and misleading information provided by Frontier Telecommunications Company.
According to the suit, Matthew Umstead, a reporter with the Martinsburg Journal, interviewed Reed Nelson and others of Frontier and wrote an article, which appeared on the front page of the Martinsburg Journal. Uricolo claims the article was "laced with false information" and damaged his reputation.
Uricolo claims he suffered considerable embarrassment and personal anguish along with many sleepless nights as a result of the actions, the suit says.
Therefore, Uricolo seeks $10,000,000 in punitive damages.
Jefferson Circuit Court case number 07-C-105
Maryland man seeks $10 million over newspaper article
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
