By Staff reports
Gaston County government announced it plans to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed against
The Gazette, and that the county's attorney said he has been tasked with finding an "alternative paper of record" for the required legal notice advertising the county does with the newspaper.
County leaders threatened to shift $70,000-$100,000 annually away from
The Gazette, a move that some experts said might be unconstitutional.
Michael Grygiel, an attorney representing the newspaper, called the plede to dismiss the lawsuit a win for freedom of the press.
"We are pleased the county apparently recognized the First Amendment imposes a zero-tolerance limit for defamation lawsuits brought by governmental bodies based on news reports critical of their official actions," Grygiel said Friday.