LOS ANGELES -- A California judge yesterday rescheduled to Nov. 1 the start of a libel trial that pits College Savings Bank of Princeton, N.J., against municipal bond newsletter publisher Zane B. Mann.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Workman said in an interview that a heavy trial calendar prevented him from beginning the trial on Monday as scheduled.
After keeping lawyers and potential witnesses -- who include California Treasurer Kathleen Brown on "one--hour call," Workman said he called lawyers for both sides to his chambers yesterday morning where a mutual agreement was reached on the postponement.
Peter A. Roberts, chairman of College Savings Bank, filed the libel suit in February 1992. Roberts claimed that the bank is eligible for unspecified monetary damages arising from the alleged defamation caused by an Oct. 1, 1991, article in California Municipal Bond Advisor. The article in the Palm Springs, Calif.-based monthly newsletter for municipal bond investors derided the bank's certificate of deposit college investment product.
