George Norcross III Filed $100 Million Lawsuit
The suit alleges The Philadelphia Inquirer provided fabricated information to prosecutors.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Financial Crime
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George Norcross III has filed a $100 million lawsuit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas against The Philadelphia Inquirer and editor Nancy Phillips. The suit alleges the defendants supplied prosecutors with fabricated information regarding his business dealings.
Why it matters
The legal action claims that disputed interview notes were used to build a racketeering case that was ultimately dismissed by a judge and upheld by an appeals court. It raises significant questions regarding the intersection of journalistic processes and criminal investigations.
The lawsuit names editor Nancy Phillips and two newspaper entities as defendants, alongside 10 additional unnamed parties. This follows the February 2025 dismissal of a racketeering indictment against Norcross.
The players
George Norcross III
He is a prominent businessman and Democratic political power broker known for his significant influence in New Jersey and Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
This is a major daily newspaper serving the Philadelphia region that has faced scrutiny for its investigative reporting.
Nancy Phillips
She is an editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer who was formerly in a long-term relationship with the late newspaper owner Lewis Katz.
Susan Bass Levin
She is a former mayor of Cherry Hill and New Jersey state official who was interviewed by the newspaper in 2019.
Lewis Katz
He was a businessman and philanthropist who co-owned The Philadelphia Inquirer prior to his death in a 2014 plane crash.
The details
Norcross alleges that Phillips shared interview notes with prosecutors to further a personal agenda rooted in her relationship with her late partner, Lewis Katz. The lawsuit claims that the notes from a 2019 interview with Susan Bass Levin were contradicted by Bass Levin herself during later investigations.
Timeline
June 2014: Lewis Katz died in a plane crash.
August 2019: Nancy Phillips conducted an interview with Susan Bass Levin.
2023: Susan Bass Levin met with prosecutors and FBI agents.
June 2024: A criminal indictment was filed against Norcross.
February 2025: A judge dismissed the racketeering indictment.
Legal Context
This lawsuit follows the judicial dismissal of the racketeering case against Norcross, highlighting a rare instance where the target of a high-profile prosecution is turning the litigation process back onto those who fueled the original investigation.
The lawsuit brings focus to the potential use of media sources in criminal investigations, which may lead to stricter public scrutiny of how state prosecutors acquire evidence from newsrooms. Residents should note that the case will proceed through the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.
The takeaway
This case illustrates the complex legal boundaries between investigative journalism and criminal prosecution. It serves as a reminder of how high-stakes litigation can follow the collapse of major criminal cases.
Further reading
For ongoing coverage of local legal developments, visit the Financial Crime section.
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