Realtor Sues "USA Today" For Libel

A was browsing the internet this afternoon and came across the article below about how a realtor in Las Vegas is suing USA Today. She is alleging that an article in the paper caused her subseqent firing and thus ending her real estate career.

We all have lost business due to the economic conditions. But you don't see any other realtors looking to sue because of it. What do you think?

Las Vegas Realtor Erin Schlumpf claims her career was destroyed by a June 3 USA Today article about mortgage fraud in Las Vegas that featured a home she sold in the Sunrise Mountain area.

A lawsuit filed Aug. 6 in District Court accuses USA Today and reporter Greg Farrell of defamation, slander, libel and false light, among other causes of action regarding Schlumpf and her business. The plaintiff is seeking more than $10,000 in damages.

Schlumpf said she was a "prominent" real estate agent, especially in downtown Las Vegas, and was earning more than $100,000 a year in commissions before the article ran.

She was terminated by Liberty Realty after the story ran because her boss didn't want "that kind of publicity." She said she hasn't been able to find another job.

"I had a promising career. I had lots of clients," Schlumpf said at the law offices of Barry Levinson. "Now I can't even get a client. Nobody will list with me or sell. I can't even hang my license anywhere. I'm pretty much wiped out."