Rather's 'lawsuit against CBS dismissed'

Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS has reportedly been dismissed.

In September 2007, the 77-year-old former CBS Evening News anchor filed a $70m (£43m) breach of contract and fiduciary duty suit against the network, in relation to a 2004 telecast about then-US President George Bush's military record.

Rather stepped down from his position as news anchor after the 60 Minutes Wednesday segment on Bush was widely criticised. He was seeking $20m (£12m) in compensatory damages and $50m (£31m) in punitive damages, amid claims that the network "seriously damaged his reputation" in an attempt to make him "a scapegoat to pacify the White House".

A New York state appeals court dismissed the case yesterday, according to TV Guide.

"This claim attempts to gloss over the fact that Rather continued to be compensated at his normal CBS salary of approximately $6m (£3.7m) a year until June 2006," judge James Catterson wrote in the dismissal. "CBS was under no obligation to use Rather's services or to broadcast any programme so long as it continued to pay him the applicable compensation."

Rather's lawyer Martin Gold said that his client is "extremely disappointed" and that they plan to appeal the ruling with the New York Court of Appeals.