Trial Date Set in Former Editor/Tri-County Times Suit

A circuit court judge has scheduled a trial by jury for the case in which the former editor of the sued the newspaper after she was fired.

Cheryl Dennison, who worked at the Tri-County Times for 12 years, including the last several as editor, stated in court documents that she was fired for opposing management's violation of copyright laws and the journalism code of ethics.

She is suing for damages that "far exceed" $100,000, according to court documents.

Judge Joseph J. Farah set a jury trial date for the case for March 7, 2013 last week and also set a final settlement conference for March 5, 2013, according to court records. The judge also set a deadline of Sept. 7 for all evidence and arguments to be submitted to the court.

Tri-County Times' lawyer Edward Davison and Dennison's lawyer Tom Pabst did not return phone messages.

, its corporate parent company Rockman Communications, and publishers Craig Rockman and Rick Rockman Jr. in Genesee Circuit Court, the Court House News Service first reported in March.

She seeks more than $100,000 in damages including age discrimination, loss of wages, emotional distress, damage to her reputation and other claims, according to court documents.

Court records show that Dennison claims that numerous times she informed her immediate supervisor and newspaper publishers Craig Rockman that the Tri-County Times violated copyright laws, the journalism code of ethics, Associated Press Style and was engaging in "flat-out plagiarism."

Dennison claims she was regarded as an "exceptional employee" when Rick Rockman Sr. was in charge, according to the court records. She said after , leaving Craig Rockman and Rick Rockman Jr. in charge, there were comments made to her such as "I want someone younger to run the paper" and "It's time for you to retire," the court records state.

The suit was filed Feb. 23 and assigned Farah in Genesee Circuit Court.

The Tri-County Times won 13 Michigan Press Association Awards in 2011. The paper has served Fenton, Linden, Holly and surrounding areas since 1994.