Friday, September 26, 2008

The former executive director of WAMU (88.5 FM) can pursue a defamation claim stemming from her firing by the public radio station, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled yesterday.

Susan Clampitt, who was ousted in 2003, filed suit against American University, which owns and operates the station, and its then-president, Benjamin Ladner. She sought damages for breach of contract, interference with contract, defamation and other claims.

The case was dismissed by a judge in D.C. Superior Court. An appellate panel said yesterday that Clampitt may take the case forward on the defamation claim.

After her firing, Ladner was quoted in a news story as saying that the decision was based on several factors, including a pattern of budget deficits. Clampitt maintained that the university approved her financial recommendations.

--Bill Miller