News In Brief

High court extends news libel actions to all states

The Supreme Court, ruling unanimously in a $20 million libel suit against the National Enquirer, said Tuesday that journalists can be sued for libel in any state, not just the state where they are based.

The ruling was a blow to publishers and broadcasters who said allowing journalists to be sued for stories appearing in a faraway state will hamper reporting. They also complained that it will be expensive to defend against such suits.