Court finds 'slut' is defamatory without need to prove damages to reputation

Article Abstract:

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in Bryson v. News America Publications that a short story referring to a character as a "slut" could be considered defamatory per se without evidence that the plaintiff's reputation was actually harmed. The Court rejected arguments that the story was opinion, that the term "slut" was open to interpretation, that the statute of limitations had run and that the full name of the plaintiff was not used. The Court found that the state Slander and Libel Act's per se false accusations of fornication and adultery category applied to the story.

Illinois, Short stories

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City supervisor not public official, figure: court rules calling street repair "paving" is defamatory

Article Abstract:

The Minnesota Court of Appeals in St. Paul ruled in LeDoux v. Northwest Publishing, Inc. that the Duluth Street and Traffic Maintenance Supervisor was not a public figure for libel purposes. The Court affirmed a libel award against the Duluth News Tribune for articles that claimed that the plaintiff paved the street upon which he was the only resident. The plaintiff was not a public figure because he was not involved in policy matters even though he was a public employee and a supervisor.

Minnesota, Public officers, Government officials

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Fictional characterization not defamatory

Article Abstract:

The California Supreme Court, in Polydoros v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., rejected a defamation suit based on the alleged portrayal of the plaintiff as a boy in the movie 'The Sandlot.' Michael Polydoros claimed the depiction also invaded his privacy by appropriating his image for commercial purposes. The Court let stand the holding that the film was constitutionally protected fiction which could neither have defamed Polydoros nor have appropriated his likeness.

United States

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