Salisbury: Differences Resolved

July 30th, 2008 by Kenneth Burns

The case involving Salisbury News Editor and MarylandPT Lower Shore Insider Joe Albero and Salisbury Police Chief Allan Webster has been resolved with no money changing hands.

That means Webster v. Albero will not be decided as scheduled at the Worcester County Courthouse in Snow Hill.

Now here is what I think, Webster did not have a leg to stand on because he is a public official and as such, he is up to public scrutiny. Also, a judge ruled that while Albero was not protected under Maryland’s press shield law because he does not draw a salary from his site. However, Albero is afforded the right to protect his sources making Webster’s case a little bit harder to prove.

Let’s refer to this as a settlement where both sides can claim victory if nothing else to keep up a face in public. I believe however that Albero won, and I am not saying that because I know him and we contribute information to each other’s site. I am saying this base on common sense and the press. I would love for Governor Martin O’Malley to sue Chip Franklin for criticisms made. Stuff like this does not happen in big markets.