Media Outlets Accused of False Reporting on Menendez Brothers Case
Television personality Judge Judy Sheindlin is taking legal action against the parent company of the National Enquirer and InTouch Weekly for defamation. The lawsuit, filed on Monday in Florida, alleges that the publications falsely claimed Sheindlin was advocating for a retrial for the Menendez brothers, convicted of murdering their parents in 1989.
InTouch Weekly Publishes Alleged False Story
The lawsuit centers around a story published on InTouch Weekly’s website in April 2024. Headlined “Inside Judge Judy’s Quest to Save the Menendez Brothers Nearly 35 Years After Their Parents’ Murder,” the article reportedly made unsubstantiated claims about Sheindlin’s involvement in the case.
National Enquirer Picks Up Story
A similar story later appeared in the National Enquirer, a sister publication to InTouch Weekly under the same ownership umbrella, Accelerate360 Media.
Sheindlin Denies Involvement and Blames Misattribution
Sheindlin maintains she has never commented on the Menendez case. Her lawsuit suggests the publications misconstrued statements made by “Judi Ramos,” identified as an alternate juror in the original trial, on a Fox Nation docuseries. The lawsuit alleges that these statements were wrongly attributed to Judge Judy Sheindlin.
Sheindlin Seeks Substantial Damages
While the lawsuit doesn’t specify a desired compensation amount, Sheindlin emphasizes the seriousness of the situation. “Fabricating stories to line your pockets with no regard for truth or my reputation comes at a cost,” she stated. “Repeated offenses are unconscionable and will be expensive. It has to be expensive enough to deter future actions.”
History of Legal Disputes
This isn’t Sheindlin’s first run-in with the National Enquirer. In 2017, the tabloid retracted and apologized for fabricated stories alleging she had Alzheimer’s, depression, and infidelity.
