Wintry mix Thursday night, another storm Friday

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

The Timberjay newspaper is safe for now after a judge tossed out a lawsuit that threatened its existence.

District court Judge James Florey dismissed a claim in which Gary and Edna Albertson, who own 46 percent of the Timberjay, said they were cut from the paper's business operations and got nothing for their investment.

The judge dismissed the case on a summary judgment, meaning he saw no evidence to weigh in a full trial. 

Timberjay publisher Marshall Helmberger has said the suit was baseless and an act of retaliation by both the Albertsons and their attorney, John Colosimo. Helmberger and his wife Jodi Summit, the Timberjay's general manager, were named in the suit.

Newspaper battle becomes a must-read in northern Minnesota

Since the Timberjay, which is based in Tower, Minn., began printing in 1989, it has developed a stellar reputation for its coverage of northern Minnesota and its bullish 

Its support in the community showed once Gary and Edna Albertson filed their lawsuit: Helmberger set up a crowdfunding effort that pulled in more than $12,000 to help cover attorney fees.

The Timberjay's attorney is pursuing recovery of Helmberger and Summit's legal fees.

Business and Economic News

Crime, Law and Justice

Courts

NewsPartners

Cody Nelson

Author

The Timberjay, an award-winning northern Minnesota paper, was sued by its part-owners in what the publisher labeled an act of retaliation.

Various TimberJay newspapers sit on a table. 

Judge tosses lawsuit that threatened small-town newspaper

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox