Film producer sues LA Times for defamation over Pelicano story

The Hollywood Repoter, Esq. reports:

A film producer and former partner of Steven Seagal has filed a $10 million defamation suit against the Los Angeles Times and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Chuck Phillips.

Julius Nasso filed suit Wednesday in New York Supreme Court taking issue with a phrase used in a June 7 story headlined “Pellicano lawyers target FBI agent.”

The story, which reported on indicted private investigator Anthony Pellicano’s developing legal strategy in his criminal wiretapping case, stated: “Seagal had been in a film partnership with reputed Gambino crime family member Julius Nasso.”

Two days after the article was published, Nasso’s lawyer, Robert Hantman, sent the Times a demand for a retraction, according to the complaint.