A Louisiana appeals court has upheld a decision to dismiss a defamation suit against a Tallulah newspaper and a Monroe television station.

The Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision against Moses Junior Williams on April 10, according to court documents.

Williams, former president of Northeast Louisiana Community Development Corp., had sued the Madison Journal, Tallulah Publishing Co., NBC affiliate KTVE in Monroe and the station’s parent company, Nexstar Broadcasting.

In the suit filed Nov. 18, 2009, Williams claimed he was libeled by the newspaper and television station after millions of dollars were reported missing from the development corporation in November 2008.

“The subject articles of Tallulah Publishing and the broadcasts of Nexstar are clearly relating to free speech and a matter of public concern,” the court stated in its opinion.

The court also ruled that Williams’ suit was not filed within the one-year statute of limitations and ordered Williams to pay $1,000 in legal fees.

Formerly owned by Vicksburg Post Publisher Pat Cashman and his wife, Barbara, Tallulah Publishing Co. was sold to Emmerich Newspapers in January 2000.