NV man sues ce

Named in
hooker case

By Robert Galster

News Reporter
robert@nsnews.com

PHIL Grassi’s night-
mare began when his
name was mentioned
during a Friday after-
noon newscast he heard
on his car radio more
than four months ago.

The April 18 story included
derails of men involved in pick-
ing up child prostitutes and the
Vancouver Police
Department’s decision to
release some of the men’s
names,

About two weeks carlier,
Grassi, a Vancouver firefighter
and North Vancouver resident,
had been arrested arid charged
with communicating with a
person for the purpose of
obtaining the sexual services of

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rd he was inno
cent, and because of the “not
inconsiderable personal cmbar-
rassment™ he had already expe:
rienced as a result of the
charge, the 49-vear-old father
of pve chose to g
secret from his wife, family
employer.

His predicament Jidin’t stay
quiet for long.

The result was a demotion
at the fire hall, a heavy dose of
further embarrassment and his
withdrawal am coaching
duties he held within the North
Shore minor hockey program,

Last Tuesday, Grassi was
found not guilty of the charge.

“TF think I'v :
ed or at feast [ think
said Grassi following the not
guilty verdict.

But the damage was done.

As a result, Grassi is launch-
ing a civil suit against the
Vancouver Police Department,
CKNW and the Province
newspaper for “a combination
of slander and libel,” said
Grassi’s lawyer Ken Young.

res

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“The concept of preventa-
uve policing, by involving the
media fs wrong,” said Young.

Grassi summed up his reac:

Housing sampler terms.

“Pve never had my day in
court. Twas guilty before Fever
went,” said Grassi,

He alleges radio station
CKNW. which broad
initial report contain
name, the Province Hewspaper,
which also named him, and the
Vancouver Police Department,
which not only named him but
also associated him with child
prostitution, are responsible tor
damage to his reputation.

Young summed up the
result of the above organiza-
Hons’ actions by using the pre-
siding judge’s words: “Grassi
was convicted in the court of
public opinion.”

Now he seeks retribution.

poe .
Where do you tun
with acomplaint {
against the press?

To us.

ihe Parah ¢

PHIL Grassi looks over numerous newspaper clip-

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‘pings that named him as a “john” before the trial.

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