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Dan Rather’s $70 million CBS suit is dismissed
Posted: Sep 29, 2009 4:59 PM by Associated Press
A New York court on Tuesday dismissed Dan Rather's $70 million breach of contract lawsuit against CBS Corp., noting that the network continued to pay the anchor $6 million a year even after he left the evening news broadcast.
Rather sued CBS and its top executives in 2007, claiming he had been removed him from his "CBS Evening News" anchor post over a report that examined President George W. Bush's military service.
The Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court - New York's trial-level court - said the complaint "must be dismissed in its entirety."
The five-judge panel ruled unanimously that a lower court "erred in declining to dismiss Rather's breach of contract claim against CBS."
The court said there was no breach of contract, because CBS still paid Rather his $6 million annual salary after the disputed 2004 broadcast under the "pay or play" provision of his contract.
Rather's lawyer, Martin Gold, said he was "extremely disappointed" in the decision and would appeal it to the Court of Appeals, New York's highest court.
CBS said in a statement it was pleased with Tuesday's ruling.
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