More wisdom from the ancients

Gus-ism of the day: "It ain't a lawsuit until it has a number." Meaning, in short, that until it's been taken downtown and duly stamped and filed, a "plan" to sue is just so much hot air. Doesn't matter who said it, or how prominent the case, or how badly your news organization wants to make up for leading the mob in the early days of the case (as in, say, the example at hand). Until it's a lawsuit, don't write about it.

I've never heard a remotely persuasive argument for abandoning that standard, and I can't imagine any way in which the New Information Age could provide one. If you have or can, please hit the comment button and explain.