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Legal Defense Fund enters 5th year of operation The KPA Legal Defense Fund will embark on its sixth year of operation Sept. 1. Since the inception of the fund in 1996, more than $70,000 has been awarded to Kentucky newspapers. The fund was created to help newspapers defray legal costs when fighting either as a plaintiff or defendant, a battle of importance to all Kentucky newspapers. The Legal Defense Fund was started with a $10,000 contribution from the KPA/KPS board after the board discussed the concept and heard that legal battles were taking a toll on newspapers. At its most recent meeting in July, the Legal Defense Fund committee awarded $2,250 to The Kentucky Standard in Bardstown for continuing legal costs the newspaper has incurred for two cases. The cases eligible for consideration by the committee must have been initiated after January 1996 and include cases involving access to records, meetings or court proceedings and lawsuits stemming from a news article, editorial or other material published by the paper. Libel cases can be considered once proof of libel insurance has been established. The process to seek financial help from the fund includes submitting the application which will first be reviewed by the KPA general counsels to determine whether or not the issue is of statewide significance. If the attorneys determine the issue meets the criteria, the application and written request will be forwarded to the committee members. Any newspaper not already participating the Legal Defense Fund but wanting to join for the coming fiscal year, should contact KPA Executive Director David T. Thompson immediately at 800-264-5721.
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