Texas “Predator” Case Continues

A $100 million lawsuit filed against NBC is proceeding, after a U.S. federal judge ruled some claims in the case could go to trial. The lawsuit charges that a segment on NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” prompted the suicide of a former Texas prosecutor.

In November 2006, assistant district attorney Louis Conradt killed himself after he was confronted by an NBC News crew there to film his arrest. He had been part of “To Catch a Predator”‘s program, where he was expecting to meet a 13-year-old boy. Conradt’s sister, Patricia Conradt, is suing the network.

The judge in the case dismissed certain aspects of the lawsuit, while allowing other claims to move forward.

NBC News spokesperson Jenny Tartikoff said in a statement, “We think the evidence will ultimately show that ‘Dateline’ acted responsibly and lawfully. The judge’s ruling was based solely on the plaintiff’s version of the facts. For purposes of this motion only, the judge was required, under the law, to accept the plaintiff’s allegations as true.”

In November, a separate lawsuit filed by a former “Predator” producer was dismissed. Previously, an ABC News 20/20 investigation looked at the tactics used by “Predator” in Texas.

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