Key facts
- George Norcross filed a defamation lawsuit against The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- The lawsuit alleges reporter Inga Saffron actively directed and participated in the newspaper's negative coverage of Norcross.
- Norcross claims Saffron's notes, which were not shared with prosecutors, were a major part of an indictment.
- The suit cites a message allegedly sent by Saffron to Norcross' daughter, Lexie, on the day of his indictment.
- Norcross intends to donate any funds from the suit to public education and public safety programs.
New Jersey power broker George Norcross has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Philadelphia Inquirer, alleging the newspaper engaged in obsessive negative coverage of him. The lawsuit, citing a recent article from former Inquirer reporter Ralph Cipriano, claims that reporter Inga Saffron actively directed and participated in the newspaper's coverage. According to the suit, Saffron's notes, which were not shared with prosecutors, were a major part of an indictment against Norcross. The suit also alleges that Saffron claimed Norcross was connected to the deaths of Katz and Sheridan, a claim for which the complaint does not cite evidence. The lawsuit argues that the statute of limitations for defamation should be tolled, as Norcross had neither a reasonable opportunity nor cause to investigate the circumstances surrounding the notes until earlier this year. Norcross has pledged to donate any funds from the suit to public education and public safety programs in Camden, Pennsauken, and Philadelphia.