Judge rules Marimow firing case belongs in Philadelphia

A judge has ruled that the dispute over the firing of Philadelphia Inquirer editor-in-chief Bill Marimow will be heard in Philadelphia, not in Delaware as company co-owners who support Marimow’s dismissal sought.

Common Pleas Judge Patricia McInerney found that, while the newspaper’s parent company is registered in Delaware, “this matter concerns a local newspaper which has served this community for many years.”

The ruling is a victory for the pro-Marimow parties in the case, co-owners Lewis Katz and H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest.

Another group of owners led by New Jersey businessman George Norcross argued that the case was an internal business dispute of the company, Interstate General Media.

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Spokesman Dan Fee said in a statement that the Norcross group is “fine with the suit being heard in Philadelphia,” noting that Judge McInerney has “shown a great deal of interest in this case.”

McInerney has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 13 on the motion of Katz and Lenfest to immediately return Marimow to his post.

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