It would make sense to me: if someone causes distress on someone else through their actions, I imagine you can make a legal case for going after him/her, especially if the first person does it for a gain (of notoriety, publicity, fame, etc) rather than by accident.

I wonder if a lawsuit alleging sander and line would apply here. I actually hope that the couple and the news organizations who started the whole thing get sued.

Are they saying they were misquoted? I'm seeing them unhappy about the publicity, but that's not slander.

No, But the lady they exploited is saying that they misrepresented her for their own benefit. I think I would be tempted to sue them for slander if I were her.