Preface
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 Evolution of a Twenty-First Century Tort
- 1.1-The 1980s: The Developmental Decade
- 1.2-April 1980
- 1.3-April 1984
- 1.4-April 1985
- 1.5-April 1987
- 1.6-July 1989
- 1.7-July 1990
- 1.8-July 1993
- 1.9-July 1998
- 1.10-July 2002
- 1.11-July 2003
- 1.12-July 2005
- 1.13-July 2010
- 1.14-July 2011
- 1.15-July 2012
- 1.16-July 2013
Chapter 2 Defamation from the Dark Ages to the Information Age: A Global Overview
- 2.1-Origins and History of Anglo-American Libel Law
- 2.2-Modern British Press Law
- 2.3-Evolutionary Trends in International Libel Law
Part I PREVENTING LIBEL-
Chapter 3 Pre-Publication Review
- 3.1-Introduction
- 3.2-Defining the Task
- 3.3-Proper Roles of Lawyer, Editor, Author
- 3.4-Discovery: Its Impact on Pre-Publication Review
- 3.5-Methods
- 3.6-Slander and Libel During Newsgathering
- 3.7-Questions to Ask in Pre-Publication Review: The Four-Step Process
Chapter 4 Injury to Reputation
- 4.1-Introduction
- 4.2-A Working Definition
- 4.3-Name-Calling: Unflattering Is Not Libelous
- 4.4-Targets: Persons Capable of Being Libeled
- 4.5-Libel Per Se, Libel Per Quod
- 4.6-Roles of Judge and Jury
- 4.7-Innocent Construction Rule
- 4.8-Single Instance Rule
- 4.9-Context and Television's “Impressions”
- 4.10-Plain Meaning of Words
- 4.11-True Facts, Defamatory Implications
- 4.12-Specific Examples of Defamation
- 4.13-Red Flag Words
- 4.14-Criminal Libel
Chapter 5 Opinion v. Fact
- 5.1-The Twin Opinion Defenses
- 5.2-Fair Comment: The Common Law Privilege
- 5.3-Verifiability and the First Amendment
- 5.4-Reconciling the Twin Defenses Since 1974
- 5.5-Distinguishing Fact from Opinion
Chapter 6 Truth
- 6.1-Introduction
- 6.2-The Requirement of Falsity
- 6.3-Burden of Proving Falsity
- 6.4-Assessing the Likelihood of Establishing Truth
- 6.5-Neutral Reportage: Publishing the Defamatory Quotation
- 6.6-False Implications
Chapter 7
Who Is the Plaintiff? The Public v. Private Person Determination
- 7.1-Introduction
- 7.2-Public Officials
- 7.3-Public Figures
- 7.4-Gertz In Perspective: Applying the “Public Figure” Tests
- 7.5-The Libel-Proof Doctrine
- 7.6-Passage of Time and Public Person Status
- 7.7-Defamation of Business Entities
Chapter 8 Evaluating the Standard of Care
- 8.1-Introduction
- 8.2-Supreme Court Development
- 8.3-The World According to Gertz: The States Respond
- 8.4-The Standard of Care: Recurring Scenarios
Chapter 9 The Damage Assessment
- 9.1-Introduction
- 9.2-Constitutional Overlay on Damage Requirements
- 9.3-Common Law Categories of Damages
- 9.4-State Statutory Rules
- 9.5-Evaluating Damages Exposure: Relevant Factors
- 9.6-Specific Exclusions and Inclusions in Damages
Chapter 10 State Law Privileges
- 10.1-Introduction
- 10.2-The Fair Report Privilege
- 10.3-Losing the Fair Report Privilege
- 10.4-Absolute Privilege
- 10.5-Qualified Privilege
- 10.6-Abuse of Qualified Privilege
Chapter 11 Privacy
- 11.1-The Twentieth-Century Tort
- 11.2-Intrusion
- 11.3-Publication of Private Facts
- 11.4-False Light and Fictionalization
- 11.5-Commercial Appropriation and the Right of Publicity
Part II LITIGATING THE LIBEL OR PRIVACY CASE-
Chapter 12 Handling the Pre-Litigation Complaint
- 12.1-The Demand for Retraction
- 12.2-Formulating Internal Procedures
- 12.3-Retraction Statutes: The Constant Criterion
- 12.4-Broadcast Stations: Special Considerations
- 12.5-General Procedures
Chapter 13 Litigation Prior to Trial
- 13.1-Introduction
- 13.2-The Pleadings Stage in Libel Litigation
- 13.3-Motions Practice
- 13.4-Investigation and Discovery Proceedings
Chapter 14 The Libel Trial: An Essay
- 14.1-Introduction
- 14.2-Motions in Limine
- 14.3-Rulings of Law in Advance of Trial
- 14.4-Voir Dire
- 14.5-Opening Statement
- 14.6-Cross-Examination
- 14.7-Direct Examination
- 14.8-Closing Argument
- 14.9-Jury Instructions
- 14.10-Special Interrogatories
- 14.11-The Second Arena: “Winning the Battle, Losing the War”
- 14.12-Counterclaims
- 14.13-Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union: A Word About Appeals
APPENDICES
- Appendix A Libel Privilege Statutes
- Appendix B Libel Retraction Statutes
- Appendix B-1 Uniform Correction or Clarification of Defamation Act
- Appendix C Statutes of Limitations
Table of Cases
Index
