A state judge has ordered John Schwegmann to pay over $7000 in legal fees and court costs after his defamation suit against the Times-Picayune and columnist James Gill was dismissed. In the suit, Schwegmann claimed he was defamed by two separate columns written by Gill in which he called Schwegmann "a scoundrel who cheated his half-sister out of her inheritance", and "a business doofus" who ruined the family's grocery business. The Times-Picayune's attorneys argued that the statements were fully supported and the suit was dismissed in May. On Friday, the judge added legal fees and court costs for Schwegmann to pay. He is appealing the judge's ruling.






.jpg)




