NH Radio: Brokered Talker Fined $274.5M In Defamation Case

Michael Gill

A New Hampshire County jury awarded three Manchester-area businessmen $274.5 million in their lawsuit against mortgage broker Michael Gill, who accused them of drug dealing and other crimes on prominent electronic billboards, radio WTPL 107.7 FM and social media viewed by millions.

Steve Gordon, an attorney who represented AutoFair owner Andy Crews, Manchester developer Dick Anagnost and Primary Bank founder William Greiner, said it is believed to be the largest personal injury verdict in New Hampshire.

“The bully has finally been punched in the mouth, which is what we wanted to do for a long time,” Crews said at a press conference outside the Merrimack County Superior Courthouse.

The verdict ended a week-long trial that started with Gill, the founder of Mortgage Specialists Inc., dramatically walking out of the courthouse and calling the trial a criminal enterprise.

According to The Union-Leader, Judge Brian Tucker had already ruled that defamation took place. The only issue for the jury was the size of the award.

During the trial, each of the three victims took the stand and detailed the effects of being accused of crimes such as drug dealing, money laundering and gun running. Gill played out the accusations on a radio show, electronic billboards in high traffic areas and social media that logged views in the thousands, sometimes millions.

The jury awarded each $35 million in special damages, which encompasses harm to reputation and emotional distress. And it awarded $50 million to each in compensatory damages, which means they found Gill acted with hatred, hostility or evil motive.

All three said most of the money they collect will go to charity.

Both Anagnost and Crews said the verdict could have far-reaching effects in the world of social media. Crews hopes the allegations will change the social media habits of someone who accuses people of crimes.

A judge has already ordered that the electricity be cut to Gill’s electronic billboards, and radio station WTPL has halted Gill’s paid program. Next up, Anagnost said, Gordon will seek an injunction ordering Facebook and Twitter to close Gill’s accounts.