
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 11, 1995                   TAG: 9510110095
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                 LENGTH: Short

ROBERTSON SUES EX-EXECUTIVE

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson has filed a $1.35 million libel suit against the former head of his direct-marketing company, accusing the man of defaming him in two media interviews.

The lawsuit filed Oct. 2 in Virginia Beach Circuit Court says Mark A. Peterson's remarks caused ``immeasurable damage to [Robertson's] reputation and standing in the community.''

Robertson also accuses Peterson of mismanaging American Sales Corp., which sold vitamins and other health care products, and misappropriating the company's assets. The company lost $4 million in its first two years.

Robertson's suit seeks $1 million in general damages from Peterson, plus $350,000 in punitive damages.

Lawyers on both sides - Glen Huff of Virginia Beach for Robertson; Joseph Lingle of High Point, N.C., for Peterson - declined to comment Tuesday.

A feud began in 1992 when Robertson fired Peterson as president of American Sales. It escalated last year when Peterson disparaged Robertson during interviews with Newsweek and ABC's ``PrimeTime Live.''

In May, Peterson filed a $70,000 lawsuit against Robertson. He alleged Robertson threatened to hurt or kill him and spread lies about him after he was fired. That lawsuit is pending in federal court in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Robertson, in an affidavit, denies making the threats.

by CNB