A federal judge will not alter his decision to remove AT&T from the lawsuit over ownership of the Salt Lake Tribune.
In a three-page order released Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart denied a motion by Salt Lake Tribune Publishing (SLTPC) to alter or amend his March order granting summary judgment to AT&T.
SLTPC sued AT&T after the telecommunications company sold the Tribune to Denver-based MediaNews Group Inc. in December 2000.
MediaNews remains a defendant in the lawsuit, as does the Deseret News and Kearns-Tribune, the newspaper's holding company. Trial in the case is scheduled to begin June 24.
In its April motion to reconsider, SLTPC argued Stewart applied the wrong legal standard in dismissing AT&T from the suit. Attorneys also attempted to introduce new evidence from MediaNews President Dean Singleton showing AT&T's "pattern and conduct of inducing other parties to interfere with the Tribune's contractual rights."
SLTPC maintains AT&T conspired with MediaNews and the Deseret News leading up to and during the sale of the newspaper.
Stewart, however, ruled he did apply the correct legal standard and says SLTPC's contentions of new evidence "are merely rearguments of theories or evidence previously presented to and considered by the court."
SLTPC fails to prove the information is "newly discovered," as required by law, Stewart wrote.
All remaining parties have also moved for summary judgment. Arguments are scheduled to be heard May 20.
Sale of the Salt Lake Tribune - Read Deseret News' archive stories and see related links about the sale of the Tribune.