Ala. state senator seeks to expand shield law

Alabama state Sen. Jabo Waggoner is sponsoring a bill that would protect magazine writers from revealing confidential sources in court.

The bill was first introduced last year after a highly-publicized lawsuit in which Mike Price, former University of Alabama football coach, sued Sports Illustrated for defamation and slander after it printed a story about him visiting a topless bar in April 2003 while coaching at Alabama.

Price sued for $20 million after he was let go from his position and during the lawsuit his lawyer sought confidential sources from the magazine story. Sports Illustrated settled with Price privately in Oct. 2005.

The state Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability Committee passed the bill unanimously and it will now go before the full chamber for a vote.