The guitarist sued the newspaper and two writers claiming they implied that he was responsible for lead singer Brad Delp's suicide.
Guitarist Tom Scholz of Boston
BOSTON (AP) – A Massachusetts judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by guitarist Tom Scholz of the rock band Boston against the Boston Herald and two of the newspaper’s columnists.
Scholz sued the paper and writers Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa in 2010, claiming they implied in their Inside Track gossip column that Scholz was responsible for lead singer Brad Delp’s 2007 suicide.
The judge in his decision Wednesday said the column was a constitutionally protected opinion that “is not vulnerable to a claim of defamation.”
A lawyer for the Herald called the decision a victory for the paper, “the public and the First Amendment.”
Scholz’s lawyer said his client “respectfully disagrees” and may appeal.
Boston’s self-titled album released in 1976 was for a decade the biggest-selling debut album ever.