DOCUMENT: Crime

Jane Pauley Sues New York Times

Broadcaster claims fraud over appearance in drug industry advertorial

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Jane Pauley Sues New York Times

OCTOBER 25--Claiming that The New York Times duped her into granting an interview for what turned out to be a drug company-funded advertising supplement, Jane Pauley has sued the newspaper for fraud.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, the 55-year-old broadcaster charges that she believed that the Times interview was for a news article on mental health issues, but that the story (accompanied by a full-page photo) ran in an October 2005 "special advertising supplement" promoting psychotherapeutic drugs sold by Eli Lilly and other pharmaceutical firms.

Pauley, who in September 2004 disclosed her battle with bipolar disorder, alleges that the Times "duped" her into lending her name to its advertising gambit, according to the lawsuit, an excerpt of which you'll find here.

After going public about her bipolar disorder, the lawsuit notes, Pauley has worked with several mental health advocacy groups, including the National Mental Health Association.

Pauley's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from the newspaper and DeWitt Publishing, which helped arrange the advertorial. (13 pages)