Family sues Hustler for $20 million for publishing nude photos after death

A grieving family is suing Hustler Magazine for $20 million after the magazine published nude photos of a model who was murdered by her husband. Hustler is claiming that the model was a public figure and newsworthy. -db From the  Daily Mail, January 26, 2012, by Daily Mail Reporter. Full story  

Dominican Republic sugar owners suffer setback in defamation case

A federal court of appeals said owners of Dominican Republic sugar cane plantations were public figures, making it more difficult for to prove they were defamed by a documentary film about the harsh treatment of Haitian laborers on the plantations. To prove defamation, the owners must show that documentary film makers acted with actual malice. [...]

Georgia appeals court clears Atlanta newspaper of libeling Richard Jewell in Olympics bombing coverage

The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution did not libel Richard Jewell, the security guard, who notified authorities about an anonymous call warning of an impending bomb blast that killed two and injured 100 some people. Jewell’s prompt action resulted in an evacuation that saved lives. The newspaper reported that the FBI [...]

California court rules talk show commentator shielded from libel under fair report privilege

A California court of appeals ruled that when a talk show commentator reported that a former high school principal used school resources to sell ads for a gay magazine, he was exempt from libel charges under a state laws that protects journalists reporting on government matters. The former principal had had earlier lost a ruling [...]

Federal judge dismisses Beckham libel suit over article alleging he paid for sex

A federal judge in Los Angeles ruled that  Touch magazine had not committed libel in an article alleging that soccer star David Beckham paid $10,000 for sex. The judge said in a one-page order that did not have a written opinion that the soccer player could not prove malicious intent. -db From the Courthouse News [...]

San Bernardino: Wife of ex-sheriff ruled a private citizen in libel suit

In a multimillion-dollar libel suit against Valley Wide Newspapers, the  plaintiff,the wife of a former sheriff won a ruling that she was not a public figure, athough she had a contract with San Bernardino County to provide counseling services to sheriff’s deputies. -db San Bernardino Sun August 23, 2010 By Mike Cruz A Superior Court [...]