Diller Strikes Back at Liberty

IAC chairman defends his leadership as media barons' court battle concludes
By Laila Weir,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 14, 2008 2:09 PM CDT
Diller Strikes Back at Liberty
Attorney Greg Blatt, left, and IAC/Interactive chief executive Barry Diller enter the courthouse, Friday, March 14, 2008, in Wilmington, Del.   (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Barry Diller struck back at Liberty Media in court yesterday, blaming CEO Greg Maffei for driving a wedge between himself and Liberty chairman John Malone by speaking “badly about our businesses and our managers.” The warring media magnates—once close partners—have been waging a court battle for control of Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp. The trial concluded today.

Diller defended his proposed restructuring of IAC and his own leadership. Liberty sued over a plan to spin off various assets under a structure that would halve Liberty’s voting power. Diller had long voted for Liberty in a proxy agreement. The Delaware court judge said his ruling would come by March 28, but a settlement is possible sooner—a lawyer for IAC indicated that talks continue. (More IAC/InterActiveCorp stories.)

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