[T-Bird45]

I predict the AP lawyers will use Sullivan v. NYTimes to construe that Zachary made himself a “public figure”, thus making the libel standard much more difficult for the plaintiff, i.e. “malice” & “utter disregard for the truth.”

[WASCWatch]

You don’t understand the NY Times v. Sullivan case, or subsequent cases.

A person doesn’t become a “public person” just because they filed a defamation lawsuit. He wasn’t a “public figure” when he was defamed. There are a number of cases which make this point quite clear; so clear, the defendants will likely not even make that defense.