Court strikes down 19th century law allowing libel suits over truthful but malicious claims

Article Abstract:

The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled in Shaari v. Harvard Student Agencies, Inc. that a state law permitting libel cases over truthful but malicious statements was unconstitutional, and that the First Amendment provided absolute protection for truthful statements concerning matters of public interest. The factual situation concerned reviews of an Israeli youth hostel, and the court ruled that these reviews were protected from libel suits as they combined accurate statements of fact and expressions of opinion.

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'Clear and convincing' evidence not needed to survive dismissal

Article Abstract:

A Texas Supreme Court ruling in Huckabee v. Time Warner Entertainment Co. that plaintiffs suing media defendants for libel must only successfuly raise a factual issue to survive a pre-trial motion for summary judgment is discussed, thus giving journalists the burden of proof at the pre-trial stage.

Texas, Summary judgments

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Police officers treated as public officials for purposes of libel suits

Article Abstract:

A Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Rotkiewicz v. Sadowsky classifying police officers who bring defamation suits as public officials who therefore have to prove actual malice to prevail is discussed.

Police, Police officers, Media coverage

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