WWF wins first legal round against PTC

A New York district court judge decided late last week that the World Wrestling Federation–which had filed a lawsuit against the Parents Television Council after it claimed that the wrestling organization was responsible for several children’s’ deaths–was not accountable for the tragic incidents, Variety reports. Said Judge Denny Chin: “The First Amendment does not protect statements that are false and defamatory even if they are made in the context of a public debate about issues of general concern.” The WWF filed the lawsuit after several sponsors declined to fund the organization following the PTC’s claims. “We’re suing them for punitive damages because of the advertising dollars the WWF lost,” said WWF lead attorney Jerry McDevitt. Both parties were ordered to settle their disputes June 22 in a Manhattan federal court.