Zimmerman must prove actual malice because he is a public figure.
Zimmerman is a public figure because the people who libeled him made him one.
Zimmerman loses the case for libel because in cannot prove actual malice.
Zimmerman must prove actual malice because he is a public figure.
Zimmerman is a public figure because the people who libeled him made him one.
_____________________
This judge’s reasoning sounds quite circular to me.
How did she get elected judge in the first place?
Wish I’d read your post before I posted. You stated it perfectly. ; )
Nailed it.
Zimmerman must prove actual malice because he is a public figure.
Zimmerman is a public figure because the people who libeled him made him one.
It bothers me that public figures can be libeled simply because they are a public figure.
Shouldn’t this be illegal no matter who it is?
If untruths were told about NBC by other media outlets, and it hurt their bottom line significantly, I’ll bet NBC would be in court same day.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. How can they hide behind the “you can’t libel a public figure” law when the only reason he’s a public figure is because of the libel?
Unbelievable. What a nice precedent. All ordinary citizens are now fair game for mainstream media libel I guess, they can say anything about anyone they want and not be held accountable for it since anyone they libel automatically becomes a public figure by virtue of the libel itself.