A jury Tuesday decided articles published by Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. and the Solanco Sun Ledger about a 1997 domestic dispute between two women did not defame a Quarryville attorney involved in the spat.

Jurors spent seven days listening to testimony and reached their verdict after about 45 minutes of deliberations.

The verdict settled the decade-long dispute between Gail A. Weber and the Sunday News, Lancaster New Era and Solanco Sun Ledger. The Sunday News and Lancaster New Era are published by Lancaster Newspapers, which also publishes the Intelligencer Journal.

George C. Werner Jr., the attorney for Lancaster Newspapers, called the verdict a victory for journalism.

"The law protects newspapers when reporting on allegations contained within court-filed documents," Werner said. "Here, the Sunday News and the New Era reported fairly and accurately on the allegations contained in a PFA (protection from abuse) petition.

"The jurors reviewed and considered the newspaper articles and the PFA petition and agreed with Lancaster Newspapers."

Weber sought financial damages after filing the lawsuit in 1999 over a series of articles that mentioned her role in a 1997 protection-from-abuse order.

The articles, which Weber alleged were defamatory, were written by Sunday News associate editor and columnist Gil Smart, New Era reporter Tom Murse and Solanco Sun Ledger reporter Lynn Commero.

Weber was mentioned in a PFA petition that Dawn L. Smeltz had filed against former Quarryville Borough police Cpl. Patricia Kelley after their 13-year relationship ended.

Smeltz wrote in the petition that "Patti's friend, Gail Weber, phoned me at work harassing me."

At the time, Weber managed the Quarryville branch of the Shirk, Reist, Wagenseller & Mecum law firm and was an assistant solicitor for Quarryville Borough Council. She advised council members on police matters and later had a romantic relationship with Kelley.

Weber spent two days last week testifying. She said she called Smeltz to dispel a rumor that she was intoxicated at a Quarryville tavern.

Weber said the eight articles about the PFA exaggerated her role in the domestic flap and damaged her career, which led to nearly 10 years of unemployment.

The only job she has held since leaving the law firm in 1998, she said, is with a security company, where she has worked since February.

Weber's attorney, Ralph Samuel, told jurors that the newspapers owed Weber about $600,000 for allegedly ruining a lucrative legal career.

Werner and attorney John C. Connell, who represented the Solanco Sun Ledger, countered the claims by telling jurors the articles were factual.

One of the partners in the law firm where Weber last worked testified that she left the job voluntarily.

A legal recruiter from Philadelphia also testified that the articles did not affect Weber's earnings potential and could have increased it had she used the publicity for marketing.

Smart and Commero testified Monday that they included Weber in the articles because of her position as assistant solicitor for Quarryville Borough Council.

E-mail: blovelace@lnpnews.com