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Judge To Decide Whether Newspaper Court Battle Belongs In Philadelphia Or Delaware

By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia judge heard oral arguments but has not decided whether the quarrel between the owners of the company that owns the Inquirer and Daily News belongs in her courtroom, or Delaware.

High-powered lawyers made their pitches on venue: Philadelphia, where the papers are based; or Delaware, where the company is incorporated. Then Judge Patricia McInerney invited South Jersey political powerbroker George Norcross and businessman Lewis Katz into her chambers for a private meeting. Observers say she may have been trying to coax the feuding co-owners to settle their boardroom differences.

Katz and his ally, philathropist Gerry Lenfest, filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia after publisher Bob Hall fired Inquirer editor Bill Marimow. Days later, Norcross filed a counter suit in Delaware.

Coming out of the courtroom, Katz smiled and said that he'd have no comment. "If I commented on what was going on, then I would be commenting."

Norcross also had no comment. "We are defendants in litigation. We did not file any litigation."

Reporter: "Well, you filed the countersuit in Delaware?"

"I think I've told you all," Norcross said. We respect the judicial process and we're not going to offer any comment."

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