Former LA Times writers sue Zell, Tribune

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A group of current and former Los Angeles Times reporters are suing Sam Zell and Tribune Co., alleging they were harmed by his management.

Their lawsuit alleges Zell and his management team breached their fiduciary duty to employees, Crain's Chicago Business reported Tuesday.

The lawsuit alleges Zell and his management team harmed workers through "their destructive management and self-dealings at the expense of employees," the newspaper reported.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking losses to the company's employee stock ownership plan they claim were caused by Zell's actions.

Filed in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California, the lawsuit seeks class-action status.

The complaint lists as plaintiffs: auto critic Dan Neil; former wine and food writer Corie Brown; former legal affairs writer Henry Weinstein; former consumer affairs writer Myron Levin; former writer Walter Rocher Jr., and former Washington bureau chief Jack Nelson.