Posted on 04/27/2005 9:10:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
CHICAGO (AP) - Two men claim photographs in the Chicago Tribune misidentified them as high-ranking mobsters, prompting one of the men Wednesday to sue the newspaper.
Retired businessman Frank Calabrese is suing the Tribune Co. for more than $1 million in damages, claiming defamation.
His picture ran Tuesday as part of a package about the indictment of several mobsters - including one named Frank Calabrese Sr. - on charges of plotting at least 18 murders.
"I have voice mails from people calling me who were my customers asking me what's happening. Is that you?" Calabrese, 76, was quoted as saying in the Tribune's Wednesday editions.
Although the Tribune apologized to Calabrese and acknowledged its mistake in an article on the front page of its Metro section, Calabrese's son, Louis, said his father was still upset.
"People were questioning his reputation," Louis Calabrese told The Associated Press.
The story - accompanied by a new photograph - said the newspaper mistakenly used an archive photograph of Frank Calabrese, who founded a small printing company, accepting an "Excellence in Manufacturing" award in 1988.
"The newspaper erroneously used that photograph in its graphic describing Tuesday's mob indictment," the article said.
Tribune spokeswoman Patty Wetli said it was "unfortunate that Mr. Calabrese has chosen to take this step after we expressed our regret and did all we could to correct the error."
Meanwhile, the Tribune also is investigating the accuracy of a photograph that ran in Wednesday's editions, Wetli said.
That photograph, which the newspaper said in another story was taken by a college student, identified a man as Joseph "The Clown" Lombardo, a 76-year-old reputed mob boss who is on the lam after being indicted Monday along with Frank Calabrese Sr.
But a man identified as Stanley Swieton told Chicago reporters he was the person in the picture. A telephone listing for Swieton could not be found.
Wetli declined to confirm that accusation.
Who's 'the clown' now?
Sometimes they make it up, sometimes they just screw it up.
As soon as Mr. Calabrese gets his reputation back then you can complain, Patty Wetli.
Either way whenever I read the paper I think of that question Rush always asks when he reads the paper.....
Wow what if this was true ?
If they did this to me, I'd own the Chicgo Tribune. (And turn it into a Consevative paper)
Look at the upside, all of the mobsters know he isn't oneof them, but it certainly would cause people who weren't in the know to treat you with more respect. I imagine he gets seriously good service at restaurants now. lol
On the one hand, this guy almost certainly is not in the Outfit. On the other hand, Al Capone claimed to be a legitimate used-furniture dealer (possibly the wealthiest ever, I might add), and would have taken great offense at the suggestion that he was anything else. On the other hand yet again, our man Al would probably have resorted to severe blunt-force trauma on the Tribsters responsible in lieu of a libel suit. ;-)
It used to be VERY conservative when Colonel McCormick owned it!!!!!!!
I used to picnic at the Colonel's Estate as a teenager.
[sigh!] I have not thought of Pam in over 20 years . . .
(Slap face!)
Getting back to the article, I knew that was not the clown's pic. I never saw that face next door.
LOL! Doncha wish you'd had your camera going? You could have a fortune selling pix to the Chicago Tribune just so they'd have the correct shots!!! bwahahahahaha!
I don't know. Being identified as a mobster could be a reputation enhancer. Long as someone isn't trying to whack you.
It's a civil suit. They damage him, he has the right to sue for recompense.
The Trib might try making their apology into the front page headline.
NNNNNNnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sure the FBI has enough pics of my indiscressions of enjoying a beer with them. Those guys threw some great BBQs.
Student photo of reputed mobster is a hit - Have you seen this "Clown"?
Good grief!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.