Absence Of Malice

A federal bureaucrat (Bob Balaban) leads a Miami newswoman (Sally Field) to libel a dead gangster's honest son (Paul Newman).

Megan Carter is a reporter duped into running an untrue story on Michael Gallagher, a suspected racketeer. He has an alibi for the time his supposed crime was committed but it involves an innocent party. When she tells Carter the truth and the newspaper runs it, tragedy follows, forcing Carter to face up to the responsibilities of her job when she is confronted by Gallagher.