Lawsuit claims 'S-Town' exploited John B. McLemore

quote:

---

The suit was filed Thursday in Bibb County by Craig Cargile, acting as the administrator for the estate of John B. McLemore. It names S-Town narrator and creator Brian Reed, Serial Productions, This American Life, Chicago Public Media and others as defendants. "S-Town," which debuted last March, tells the story of McLemore, a clock restorer who lived in Woodstock until he killed himself in 2015. In 2012, McLemore contacted Reed, a producer for "This American Life," about a suspected murder. Reed traveled to Alabama, investigated the case, and carried on a correspondence with McLemore until his death.

---

quote:

---

I am simply doing my duty as administrator of the estate of Mr. McLemore," Cargile said in a statement. "I have a duty to protect and preserve the assets of the estate for the benefit of the estate's creditors and other beneficiaries, including Mr. McLemore's mother, who is still living." The 15-page lawsuit cites "S-Town" promotional material that calls the podcast an "unearthing of the mysteries of one man's life." "None of these 'mysteries' are matters of legitimate public concern, nor were these matters that McLemore contacted Reed to investigate or write about," the suit states. "The podcast itself acknowledges that McLemore did not wish certain information conveyed to Reed be publicly known, particularly with respect to McLemore's sexual orientation."

---

quote:

---

goes on to say that Reed recorded McLemore's admission that he was considering suicide, but that Reed never told a healthcare provider, law enforcement authority or relative.

---