A Louisville Metro Police officer has filed a defamation lawsuit against longtime radio personality Terry Meiners and WHAS Radio, claiming Meiners disparaged and lied about the officer on the air for several days after being given a speeding ticket in March 2011.
Sam Cromity claims Meiners referred to him as "Black Barney" - an apparent reference to Barney Fife, a caricature of a bumbling, imbecilic police officer" and Cromity's black vehicle, that he played belittling songs about the highway patrol, and called the officer a delusional "liar" who was irresponsible, reckless and dangerous.
Cromity had threatened to sue last year, as Meiners' speeding ticket wound its way through court, ending in November when a Jefferson District Court jury, deliberating for only a few minutes, found Meiners not guilty.
After the verdict, Meiners went to shake the hand of Cromity, who brushed by him before turning back and telling Meiners that if he was going to call the officer a liar he should do it "to my face."
At the time, Andrew Horne, Cromity's civil attorney, said the not-guilty verdict gave Meiners a better defense if there was a lawsuit, but wouldn't necessarily prevent one, especially with personal comments the radio host made about Cromity.
Horne did not immediately return a call to his office. Cromity declined to comment through a police spokesperson.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Jefferson Circuit Court, claims Cromity's reputation was damaged by slanderous comments and requests a trial and punitive damages.
Steve Pence, Meiner's attorney, said "this is nothing but sour grapes by this LMPD officer," noting jurors believed Meiners.
"This officer's feelings are hurt, and unfortunately he won't let it go," Pence said in an interview, adding that Meiners was clearly telling the truth on the air, that he was wrongfully issued a citation.
Cromity claims in the suit that he pulled over Meiners and another person on March 18, 2011, and was polite and courteous, but Meiners was upset about the ticket and used his radio show to "retaliate," disparaging the officer's character, competence and reputation.
Cromity accused Meiners of driving 75 mph in a 55-mph zone on the Watterson Expressway. The lawsuit claims Meiners implied Cromity was confrontational and Meiners felt he would be arrested if he complained.
According to the testimony and lawsuit, Cromity demanded an on-air retraction and financial compensation, claiming he called the officer a liar on the radio 15 times and referred to him as "Black Barney" and "Black Car Barney." The lawsuit alleges no retraction was made.
During the trial, Cromity, who is African American, said he was offended by what Meiners said and went to WHAS Radio to get a copy of the comments before going to an attorney.
Meiners told jurors that the "Black Barney" reference had nothing to do with race but instead was a reference to Cromity's vehicle, a black Ford Mustang, and to the officer's notoriety in patrolling that area. Meiners said he created a character combining the outlaw Black Bart and Deputy Barney Fife on "The Andy Griffith Show."
WHAS Radio, named as Clear Channel Communications, is also named as a defendant in the suit.
Asked during the trial by Assistant County Attorney Matthew Welch whether he called Cromity a liar 15 times, Meiners acknowledged that he had and that he did it again "two more (times) today."
"I was furious about it," Meiners said, telling jurors that he was going nowhere near 75 mph when he was pulled over while on the way to work. "I could have just paid this (ticket), but I'm not going to let him lie about me."