A Superior Court judge heard arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit against the owner of Alaska’s largest newspaper.
Alaska Dispatch co-founder Tony Hopfinger is suing the newspaper’s current owner, Alice Rogoff, over an agreement he said entitled him a little more than a million dollars over 10 years for his stake in the newspaper.
Rogoff, a wealthy former executive at U.S. News and World Report, and Hopfinger, a former journalist, inked the deal on a cocktail napkin in 2014 — which presiding judge Andrew Guidi asked about during opening arguments.
“The napkin in this case is essentially an offer,” Rogoff’s attorney, David Gross said.
“Is it a paper napkin?” Guidi asked.
“It is a paper napkin, yes your honor,” another lawyer said.
Gross argues that the napkin does not constitute a contract.
Rogoff, through her attorney, also argues that Hopfinger did not keep up his end of the deal anyway and failed to continue helping guide the media company.
Hopfinger’s attorney said his client was under no such obligation to do any work in exchange for the payments and says the napkin contains all the terms that are essential to a contract.
Going forward, Judge Guidi could either decide the case himself or send it to a jury trial.
Guidi said his decision will be made in the coming days. A potential trial would take place in March.
