Need to prove "actual malice" if someone becomes a "public figure".
Nick Sandmann didn't put himself into the news in any way, shape, or form, so he was able to avoid having to prove the "actual malice" standard. Reporting on a triple shooting is newsworthy, so the media gets protected by the higher standard.
Seriously fuck the Supreme Court for its "NY Times v. Sullivan" decision and its sequels. There was absolutely no basis in law or custom for it, it was pure legislating-from-the-bench.
Well, the fix there would be to send them proof their statements were false and demand a retraction. I believe that's the normal first step before filing defamation claims anyhow.
Need to prove "actual malice" if someone becomes a "public figure".
Nick Sandmann didn't put himself into the news in any way, shape, or form, so he was able to avoid having to prove the "actual malice" standard. Reporting on a triple shooting is newsworthy, so the media gets protected by the higher standard.
Seriously fuck the Supreme Court for its "NY Times v. Sullivan" decision and its sequels. There was absolutely no basis in law or custom for it, it was pure legislating-from-the-bench.
Well, the fix there would be to send them proof their statements were false and demand a retraction. I believe that's the normal first step before filing defamation claims anyhow.