Case Summary

1243 REVIEW DENIED Defamation liability cannot be imposed for expressions of opinion or false assertions of fact not likely to injure the reputation; the head of a county agency enjoys statutory immunity from defamation liability for statements made within the scope of discretionary powers; a person who attempts to influence public opinion as to how school children should protect themselves during an earthquake is a limited issue public figure and cannot maintain a defamation action without establishing that the defendant knew the falsity of the statements s/he published or acted with a reckless disregard for the truth; if they are based on publication of statements by defendant, suits for false light privacy, interference with contract, and interference with economic relations must satisfy the constitutional requirements that apply to defamation actions.

COPP v PAXTON (Earthquake Disagreement) 45 CA4 829 [See: CivC 45, 47; Gregory v McDonnell Douglas 17 C3 596; Fletcher v SJ Mercury News 216 CA3 172; Kilgore v Younger 30 C3 770; Barr v Matteo 360 US 564; Sanborn v Chronicle 18 C3 406; Royer v Steinberg 90 CA3 490; NY Times v Sullivan 376 US 254; Gertz v Robert Welch 418 US 323; Rudnick v McMillan 25 CA4 1183, T/AT 7/94; St Amant v Thompson 390 US 727]