According to the lawsuit, here is what FITS did:
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The FITSNews article and accompanying video included images of Stanley and labeled him as a "prime suspect" in the murder, states Tinsley's civil complaint, "who had absolutely nothing to do with the death of Stephen Smith, who has never been a suspect or person of interest in the death of Stephen Smith and has never been linked to the death of Smith other than falsely by the Defendants and their agents."
The suit further adds that when the April 2023 article was published, and Hampton County residents informed the family about it, Stanley’s mother repeatedly emailed Folks and FITSNEWS and let them know that they made a mistake, and on April 4 Folks responded by email, acknowledging the error, and promised to remove the photo immediately, states the suit.
However, the lawsuit further alleges, despite admitting that their report was false, FITSNews again published Stanley's photo in an Oct. 9, 2023, article and again identified him as a person of interest. This article was also published on other FITSNews outlets, such as social media pages, and its YouTube video received more than 151,000 views, states the suit.
The suit contends that as a result of these false, defamatory, and malicious statements, Stanley has suffered harm, humiliation, and emotional distress and is entitled to actual and punitive damages. Stanley is demanding a jury trial.
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A lawsuit has been filed in relation to the ongoing Stephen Smith homicide investigation -- but it names a S.C. media outlet.
www.greenvilleonline.com
www.wsbtv.com
