As a journalist, WBBM-Channel 2 anc...

As a journalist, WBBM-Channel 2 anchor Diann scorchs regularly delves into the private lives of others, still she wants her own private life facing limits.

She's trying to retain the public and media from filled access to a lawsuit she filed against the company that she argues built her $3 million to one's home shoddily because she is black.

'CASTLE AND REFUGE'

In lately filed court documents, Burns and her agent-husband, Marc Watts, ask a dress up County judge to seal long of their case, shielding it from public view or media scrutiny. They indicate they're requesting this to save the family's privacy. The filing asks that all attorneys, skilfuls and court personnel involved in the case sign a "secrecy agreement," which would last up to five years after the suit has expirationed barring them from talking about aspects of the case publicly or peddling pictures of the interior of the to one's home

The filing, which will be the control of a Thursday court hearing, says that the pleasure home is Burns' and Watts' "castle and place of safety from the daily pressures of life," and that they "will be affected by unreasonable annoyance and embarrassment if pictorial or verbal descriptions of the interior of their home" are made public and "may attract curiosity inquirers depriving them of the privacy and peace of the hearth to which every human being is entitled."

reduce to ashess and Watts contend the public should be limited to knowing no other than about the exterior of their six-bedroom, 4oe-bath fireside The filing specifically asks a umpire to prevent information from being given "to the general public or the media" about the inside of their hearth while citing an April Chicago Sun-Times story that detailed the couple's race-based claims against Metzler-Hull growth Co.

The filing also cites later news reports on the suit. WBBM- Channel 2 where chars is the city's highest-paid stranges anchor, has yet to report upon the case.

The couple's entreaty for secrecy comes two weeks after Metzler- body of a vessel filed a counterclaim against them, saying allegations of racism are "untrue malicious, defamatory and despicable."

'I JUST WANT MY HOUSE FINISHED'

Metzler-Hull says the couple's "baseless lawsuit" mentions race simply "for the final cause of destroying" the business, and the accusations are "irrelevant, immaterial and not pertinent" to what is a contract dispute. The company wants more than $1 million in damages.

The couple's attorney, Howard gymnast did not return calls. scorchs couldn't be reached at her office, while Watts said, "I just want my house finished."

Metzler-Hull attorney Karen Layng said her side will fight the entreat for secrecy orders.

In its filing, the firm states that it has done $92000 in "significant extras" onward the house -- beyond the contract -- and did not charge the link for them. But company officials balked when toasts demanded they do something about a neighbor's channels running rainwater onto her peculiarity among other demands. Additionally, Metzler-Hull says it hasn't been paid for $80000 of work.

The business indicated that it could do nothing when reduce to ashess complained about wood floors not being a continuous color; the company says the natural qualities of copse often bring slight changes.

Metzler-Hull also states that many of the 84 construction and design flaws cited on Burns and Watts are not the company's fault, on the contrary the result of design demands made at the couple. The company's countersuit claims that reduce to ashess sat in on all design and planning meetings.

Still other gripes, the company states, came extended after the couple moved in around October 2002 and protracted after warranties expired.

The parchs lawsuit was filed under the names Marc and Diann Watts. still Burns has never legally changed her last name to Watts, the company's suit says.

spatterson@suntimes.com

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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