A Realtor in Las Vegas is taking legal action against USA Today, alleging that an article in the newspaper triggered her firing and ruined her career.
From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Las Vegas Realtor Erin Schlumpf claims her career was destroyed by a June 3 USA Today article about mortgage fraud in Las Vegas that featured a home she sold in the Sunrise Mountain area.
A lawsuit filed Aug. 6 in District Court accuses USA Today and reporter Greg Farrell of defamation, slander, libel and false light, among other causes of action regarding Schlumpf and her business. The plaintiff is seeking more than $10,000 in damages.
Schlumpf said she was a "prominent" real estate agent, especially in downtown Las Vegas, and was earning more than $100,000 a year in commissions before the article ran.
She was terminated by Liberty Realty after the story ran because her boss didn't want "that kind of publicity." She said she hasn't been able to find another job.
"I had a promising career. I had lots of clients," Schlumpf said at the law offices of Barry Levinson. "Now I can't even get a client. Nobody will list with me or sell. I can't even hang my license anywhere. I'm pretty much wiped out."
Reader Comments Read all comments (2)
Richard Shoemaker of HI 6:48PM August 24, 2008
mark of FL 5:28PM August 19, 2008