ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 3, 1996 TAG: 9612030083
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Food Lion is seeking as much as $2.5 billion in damages from ABC Inc. stemming from a 1992 hidden-camera expose by ``PrimeTime Live,'' a spokeswoman for the supermarket chain said Monday.
But attorneys for the network were asking a federal judge to limit any possible damage award.
The supermarket chain's sales, profits and stock price all plummeted following the ABC report, Food Lion spokeswoman Chris Ahearn said.
``We want the public to know that what was shown on television is not what takes place in our stores.''
Bill Jeffress, an attorney for the network, argued that ABC cannot be ordered to pay damages to Food Lion for airing the investigative piece.
``If we're going to have a free press in this country it needs some breathing space,'' he told the judge.
Food Lion attorney Richard Wyatt argued that the ABC reporters stepped over the line this time. He said they staged events in order to get more sensational material for their story.
The trial, expected to last three to five weeks, is scheduled to begin Monday.
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB