Losing Florida Candidate Sues for Libel

MIAMI (CN) – Losing Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene wants $500 million from two Florida newspapers that he says cost him votes by publishing false stories and editorials implicating him in a mortgage fraud case. The billionaire, who lost in his primary run, sued The St. Petersburg Times, The Miami Herald and reporters and editors in Miami-Dade County Court.     “The articles were published in print and online pursuant to a coordinated and agreed upon plan to assassinate Greene’s character, to diminish his chances of winning ” the nomination, and “to impair the future earning capacity of an extremely successful businessman.”      Greene seeks $250 million in compensatory damages and another $250 million in punitive damages for libel.The lawsuit was filed by L. Lin Wood.