PHILADELPHIA – The fate of the editor’s job at The Philadelphia Inquirer is now in the hands of a judge weighing a bitter ownership dispute.
Co-owner Lewis Katz wants fired editor Bill Marimow to return, while rival co-owner George Norcross does not. They hold equal stakes in the company, which also operates the Philadelphia Daily News.
Katz says Norcross violated his voting rights by having Marimow fired last month.
Each side accuses the other of meddling in newsroom operations despite a non-interference pledge.
That pledge appears problematic, since both powerful businessmen have close ties in the newsroom. Katz’s longtime companion is the paper’s city editor while Norcross’ daughter has helped run the Philly.com website.
Common Pleas Judge Patricia McInerney did not say Wednesday when she would rule.
