ERIE, PA. Ruling: Station does not have to reveal its source

The judge sought to sue the source of the report.
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- A radio station does not have to immediately reveal its source for a report that alleged that Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce illegally parked in a handicap space when he went skating at a park, a judge ruled.
Joyce sued WJET-AM/1400 and host Randy Brewer for defamation, alleging that a report that he used a handicap permit to park at Presque Isle State Park last fall "blackened" his reputation and exposed him to "public hatred, contempt and ridicule."
Contest
Brewer offered listeners a free dinner for two if they could guess which public official who was not handicapped had parked in a handicap spot, and a caller who guessed Joyce was declared the winner, according to the lawsuit. Joyce denies parking in the spot.
Joyce had sought an emergency motion seeking to discover the source so he could sue that person. Joyce said he did not believe there was a source.
Butler County Senior Judge Martin O'Brien said Thursday that Joyce should follow laws for civil proceedings.
Gayle Sproul, the lawyer for Brewer and the station's owner, Next Media Group Inc., argued that Joyce created the emergency by waiting 10 days before the statute of limitations expired to seek information about the source.