Md. blogger, police chief settle defamation suit

A Salisbury, Md. police chief settled his defamation suit against a blogger there this week, reportedly on "non-monetary" terms.

Salisbury Chief Allan Webster’s case was due to go to trial Wednesday when blogger Joe Albero announced on his Web site, sbynews.blogspot.com, that the matter had been resolved. Albero did not disclose the terms.

Webster alleged in his $9,999 suit, which he filed in March, that Albero made false statements about him on the blog and invaded his privacy. According to the Maryland Daily Record, Albero once posted a letter anonymously written to the city council accusing Webster "of mismanagement, cronyism and sexual harassment."

Albero claimed he was protected by the state’s reporter’s shield law against having to reveal his source for the letter, the Daily Record said. A Worcester County District Court judge agreed he could keep the source secret, but said Albero wasn’t covered by the law because he’s a blogger.