Tater Slift is a music sensation. She is successful on stage and on the screen, as a
Question:
Tater Slift is a music sensation. She is successful on stage and on the screen, as a singer, musician and actress. But her love life is a mess. Her most recent ex-boyfriend is rock 'n roll bad boy, Mick Jomass, who is also a rock star. Their breakup made national news.
Jomass is fuming mad that Slift dumped him. So he calls reporter Sammy Sleaze from the Rolling Rock Magazine, and tells Sleaze that Slift has been raising ticket prices - illegally - on her recent concert tour. The accusation is false, and Sleaze knows it is false, but he needs a good scoop for the next edition of the magazine.
Jomass also tells Sleaze that Slift contracted a sexually transmitted disease while on tour in Europe. He says Sleaze can find the information about the STD in a US Customs disclosure form that Slift was required to fill out when she returned to the United States. That form does indeed contain the information about the STD that Slift contracted. It is accurate and it is a public record. But Sleaze does not try to get a copy of the form from US Customs.
Sleaze reaches out to Tater Slift's media relations firm and asks about the accusation of illegal ticket price increases. The firm released a statement to Sleaze, which reads, "Tater Slift categorically denies that she has ever or would ever raise ticket prices illegally." Sleaze does not ask about the STD.
Sammy Sleaze publishes a story in Rolling Rock, containing quotes from Jomass, accusing Slift of illegally raising ticket prices, as well as the accusation that she had an STD. Sleaze also includes the response from Slift's media relations firm in his story.
When Slift reads the article, she's furious. She sends out a call to action on Snapchat, ordering her millions of fans, known as "Slifties," to immediately hunt down and "do physical harm" to Jomass. Slifties are not ordinary fans. They are hard-core and would do anything to make Tater happy.
The FBI opens an investigation into the ticket price accusations and FBI agents demand Sleaze's notes from the news story as part of their investigation.
What lawsuit would Tater Slift likely file against Sammy Sleaze for reporting on the STD? Would she win or lose? Why or why not?
Expert Answer:
Tater Slift could potentially file a defamation lawsuit against Sammy Sleaze for reporting false inf... View the full answer
