DocketNumber： No. CV-99-0586133S
Citation Numbers： 2000 Conn. Super. Ct. 7139
Judges： LAVINE, JUDGE.
Filed Date： 6/13/2000
Status： Non-Precedential
Modified Date： 4/17/2021
A. Legal Standards Relating to Prejudgment Remedies
Plaintiffs Amended Complaint of October 12, 1999, sounds in four counts. Count One alleges what the plaintiff denominates libel per se; Count Two alleges what is described as libel by inference and/or innuendo; Count Three alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress; Count Four sets out a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The standards for the granting of a prejudgment remedy are well known. General Statutes §
B. The Facts
The facts underlying this claim, as developed during the evidentiary hearings, may be summarized in relevant part as follows.
Walter Kupchunos, sheriff of Hartford County, testified that he had been elected in 1998. He met the defendant, John R. Griffin, in 1994 when Griffin was then a candidate for sheriff of Hartford County. Kupchunos testified that he and Mr. Griffin discussed the plaintiff, Jerome Martin, when the plaintiff was under consideration for the position of chief deputy sheriff.
Kupchunos testified that Griffin told him that "under no circumstances" should Kupchunos put Martin in that position because Martin was guilty of "a horrendous sexual crime." Tr. 8/27/99, p. 6. Kupchunos testified that Griffin stated that Martin had been "found innocent or not guilty" because of a "technicality." Kupchunos testified that Griffin had said that Martin had "taken a gun and put it to a girl's head and made her perform oral sex, " and that on appeal he had been found not guilty, "but that doesn't mean he's not guilty." Tr. 8/27/99, pp. 8-9, 37, 69. (The complaint in this case is not based on this alleged statement, but rather on a televised campaign commercial, as will be explained below.) Kupchunos testified that Griffin had informed him that Martin's conviction had been successfully appealed. Tr. 8/27/99, pp. 8-9, 36.
Kupchunos testified that in response to Griffin's allegations, he told Griffin to get proof. Kupchunos testified that Griffin obtained newspaper articles describing the jury's verdict in a 1979 criminal trial in which Martin was the defendant. Kupchunos testified that Griffin warned him not to make plaintiff chief deputy sheriff because it was "not good to have a sexual offender in a position of authority." Tr. 8/27/99, pp. 11-12. CT Page 7142 Because of what he had been told, Kupchunos testified, he told Martin that he could not appoint him chief deputy sheriff, the number three position in his office.
Kupchunos testified that he had received a copy of Plaintiffs Exhibit 1. Plaintiffs Exhibit 1 is a May 8, 1995 letter from Attorney Joseph E. Fazzano, indicating a copy was sent to Mr. Kupchunos, with attached newspaper articles from The Hartford Courant relating to the trial and appeal in the Martin case. The letter reads as follows:
Dear Mr. Griffin:
This office represents Jerome Martin. Mr. Martin has reported to us that in recent weeks you have disparaged him and have circulated falsehoods concerning him. These activities have resulted in difficulties for Mr. Martin in his occupation. I am certain that I need not tell you that to disparage one in his trade or profession is actionable under the law. I will cite only one instance of your commentaries that are false and harmful. You have circulated information that Mr. Martin was convicted of a crime 17 years ago. That statement is false. That statement is libelous. Please consider this letter as a formal request that you cease and desist from such conduct. In the event that you persist in circulating falsehoods concerning our client, we will have no choice but to take appropriate action. If you wish to have your attorney discuss the matter with me, I will be pleased to do so at any time.
Attached to Plaintiffs Exhibit 1 are copies of two newspaper articles. The first, with a file stamp date of March 17, 1979, is headlined "Martin Convicted on Lesser Count." The article identifies plaintiff as a "former Hartford police union president and a 10~1/2 year veteran of the force, " and recites, in part, that Jerome Martin "was convicted, of a reduced sexual assault count in connection with an attack on a young woman whom he dated more than a year ago." The article also states that the jury "first acquitted Martin. . . of a first degree sexual assault count" before finding him guilty of "third-degree sexual assault." The second article, date stamped May 26, 1982, is headlined, "Court Says Ex-Officer Innocent Because of Mistake in Sex Trial." This article states, in relevant part, as follows: "The state Supreme Court Tuesday ordered a directed judgment of not guilty in the sexual assault case of Jerome Martin. In a footnote to the decision, the court said Martin could be retried on third degree sexual assault charges." The article went on to CT Page 7143 state that the trial judge had erred when he told the jury that Martin, who was on trial for first-degree sexual assault, could be convicted of third-degree sexual assault. The Supreme Court concluded, the article indicated, that third-degree sexual assault was not a lesser included offense of first-degree sexual assault. At the prejudgment remedy hearing, the court took judicial notice of the reported decision in Statev. Martin,
Kupchunos testified that as a result of reading the newspaper articles, he understood that Martin's conviction had been overturned or reversed. Griffin told him that if Martin were elevated to a high position, the public would find out about the conviction. Kupchunos decided not to appoint Martin chief deputy sheriff because to do so "would not have been in the department's best interest." Tr. 8/27/99, pp. 46-47. Kupchunos testified that Martin worked on his 1998 campaign. However, Kupchunos said that Martin was never told he was authorized to make statements on behalf of the campaign. Tr. 8/27/99, p. 65. Kupchunos also stated that three members of the Hartford County Sheriffs Department had felony convictions as of October 26, 1998, and that they were members of the department on election day. Tr. 11/12/99, p. 12.
Plaintiffs Exhibit 2, a videotape of a campaign commercial and the basis for the allegations set out in the complaint, was played. The tape is approximately thirty seconds long. It aired on numerous occasions on different television stations during the campaign. The court has viewed it repeatedly.
The tape begins with the words "The Truth" visible on the screen. A voice continues to state: "As Hartford County Sheriff, Walter Kupchunos hired convicted felons as deputies." Police sirens become visible. So does a Hartford Courant editorial headline, "Felons as Deputies."
Next, the following words are spoken: "Arrested for raping a 24 year old girl at gunpoint." At the same time as these words are heard, on the screen appears the facesheet in the reported judicial decision of Stateof Connecticut v. Jerome Martin, with the citation and date of the opinion appearing. The case caption enlarges in size while on the screen, and is visible for three to four seconds. The name Jerome Martin is visible. While the facesheet of State v. Jerome Martin is enlarging, the words "Sexual Assault" appear on the screen.
The advertisement continues with the following words, appearing in sequence, accompanied by National Crime Information Center (NCIC) identification cards in the background: "Conspiracy to sell heroin, " "Racketeering," "Larceny," and "Possession of marijuana." CT Page 7144
The voiceover continues as follows: "Kupchunos even opposed the bill to prohibit convicts from serving as deputies, claiming that the quality of services would dramatically decline." A reference to Judiciary Committee Hearing Testimony of February 16, 1998, is then made on the screen.
Continues the advertisement: "Convicts Serving as Sheriffs. The Kupchunos Record. Felon Friendly. Vote Griffin for Sheriff. Protect Your Family." The screen then displays a Hartford Advocate headline, "A Dysfunctional Department."
The commercial indicates, at the end, that it was "Paid For by Griffin for Sheriff "98, Joseph Batista, Treasurer."
The commercial is unambiguously a political advertisement. The only names used during the advertisement are those of Jerome Martin, which is visible in written form, and Walter Kupchunos. The plaintiff is not specifically stated to be a convicted felon, but he argues that a reasonable viewer would inevitably draw the conclusion that he is a convicted felon, based on the entire advertisement.
Jerome Martin testified. He stated that he does not have a criminal record today. From 1995 through 1998, he was a special deputy.
In 1998, Griffin approached him and asked for his support in the race against Kupchunos. He received mailings and phone calls from Griffin. Plaintiffs Exhibit 3 is an example. of such a mailing. Martin decided not to support Griffin.
He first saw the television advertisement while sitting in his living room and was "enraged." The advertisement did not mention that his conviction had been overturned. He found the advertisement degrading and traumatizing. It caused him to become depressed and seek psychological treatment. Tr. 8/27/99, pp. 82-98.
On cross-examination, the plaintiff agreed that he had been arrested for an alleged sexual offense. He stated that it was also correct to say that there are deputy sheriffs with convictions of various crimes. The only thing not literally true in the advertisement, he testified, was the allegation that he had used a gun in connection with the alleged sexual assault. The omission of the fact that his conviction was overturned on appeal rendered the advertisement inaccurate in his view. Tr. 8/27/99, pp. 99-110.
When questioned about his role in the Kupchunos campaign, he stated that he had made telephone calls, put lawn signs up, and attended some meetings. He denied having put out any press releases. Tr. 8/27/99, p. CT Page 7145 111. Notwithstanding this denial, when confronted with Defendant's Exhibit D, he admitted to putting it out. Defendant's Exhibit D, entitled "Press Release" in bold letters, states at the bottom: "Press Release authorized by Jerome L. Martin, executive advisor for the Independent Special Deputy's Association. 860-610-0653 pager 279-0467." The press release states as follows in its entirety:
Members of the Union Executive Board, for the Special Deputy Sheriff's, for Hartford County, were upset that a candidate for High Sheriff, John Griffin, made accusations against the department. The Union cited that Griffin [sic] comments were both inflammatory and politically motivated. The Union feels that, Mr. Griffin is attempting to use the incident to gain notoriety and the news media is accommodating him and his antics. (the [sic] accusation that is being referred to, is the story in the newspapers on Monday, involving an incident that occurred last week between a prisoner and a special deputy sheriff.) The Union feels that the incident is being handled properly by the department and that the investigation will determine what happened. The remarks by Griffin calling the incident a "Rodney King beating, " is so out of line that it is a joke. Griffin was not present nor can he identify anyone that can substantiate the incident. The saddest part of this is that the media prints what this phony says.
The executive advisor for the Union, Jerome Martin, calls Griffin a lunatic and feels that a mental evaluation of him is needed. Martin states, "We have been listening to Griffin for years and I have always doubted his truthfulness. I have heard his stories about his so called military background and his training, but I have yet to see any creditable documentation to back it up. He is a phony and a blowhard. He boast [sic] of a law enforcement background, then tell me with what department and what police academy he graduated from."
Martin calls, [sic] Griffin a tin soldier and that he is a legend in his own mind. Martin further feels that if Griffin was ever allowed to run the Sheriffs Department, it would be like giving the prisoners the keys to the cells.
Also admitted into evidence was Defendant's Exhibit B, an August 6, 1998 story in the Journal Inquirer headlined, "Complaints turn sheriffs race into slugfest." The article discusses, among other things, the plaintiffs press release, Defendant's Exhibit D. Admitted also was Defendant's Exhibit C, an October 15, 1998 article in the Hartford Advocate. The article states as follows in relevant part:
From the beginning, the campaign for sheriff has been less about issues than character, or rather, lack of CT Page 7146 character. For example, the Advocate recently got a long letter from special deputy and occasional Kupchunos campaign volunteer Jerome Martin. In it, Martin calls Griffin a phony, and makes a point-by-point analysis of Griffin's resume, highlighting apparent inconsistencies and exaggerations. Martin may be the wrong person to challenge anybody's character. In January 1978, he was accused of twice raping a 24-year-old West Hartford woman and forcing her to have oral sex with him and a companion. The former Hartford police officer was later convicted of third-degree sexual assault and sentenced to one to three years in prison, a conviction that was later overturned on a technicality.
Martin admitted having made statements to the media about the Kupchunos-Griffin race, having authored two or three letters for the Kupchunos campaign, and having faxed the press release to newspapers, but denied having injected himself into the campaign. Tr. 8/27/99, pp. 112-116, 120-121.
Edward Katz, a principal in the firm of Cashman Katz, testified. His firm makes television commercials. Mr. Katz testified about the number of times the commercial was aired and on what stations. Tr. 8/2/99, pp. 132-139. When asked if he thought the commercial was fair, he stated, "Political advertising tends to be hardhitting, I would say this falls in that realm." Tr. 8/27/99, p. 146. He also opined that it was "kind of standard" to omit information that is critical about a certain state of facts, "especially in ads that are casting doubts or, or putting the opposing candidate in a negative light that tends to be a very frequent occurrence." Tr. 8/27/99, p. 148. He added that "a lot of times political ads are created to create an impression and for no other reason the amount of only having thirty seconds to do that you can't tell a complete story in thirty seconds." Tr. 8/27/99, p. 149.
C. Legal Analysis: General Discussion
Count One alleges a claim of libel per se. In order to prevail on such a claim, the plaintiff must prove that a false and defamatory statement was made; that there was an unprivileged communication to a third party; and that there was fault on the part of the publisher of the statement.Miles v. Perry,
The degree of fault which must be demonstrated depends on the status of the plaintiff. Libel laws are designed to protect a person's most CT Page 7147 treasured asset — a good reputation. Under New York Times Co. v.Sullivan,
As the Supreme Court stated in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, 376 U.S. 279-80:
The constitutional guarantees [of the First and Fourteenth Amendments] require, we think, a federal rule that prohibits a public official from recovering damages for a defamatory falsehood relating to his official conduct unless he proves that the statement was made with "actual malice" — that is, with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not.
The Supreme Court continued:
We have no occasion here to determine how far down into the lower ranks of government employees the "public official" designation would extend for purposes of this rule, or otherwise to specify categories of persons who would or would not be included.
Id., 283 n. 23.
In Kelley v. Bonney,
In determining whether a particular individual holds the status of a public official, courts have remarked on various significant considerations. The United States Supreme Court indicated that the underlying purpose of limiting an individual's ability to protect his reputation was to allow citizens to voice their opinions more freely on matters of public concern. New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, 270. "[D]ebate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, CT Page 7148 and. . . may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials." Id. "[T]he "public official' designation applies at the very least to those among the hierarchy of government employees who have, or appear to the public to have, substantial responsibility for or control over the conduct of governmental affairs." Rosenblatt v. Baer,
383 U.S. 75 ,85 ,86 S. Ct. 669 ,15 L. Ed. 2d 597 1966); Moriarty v. Lippe,162 Conn. 371 ,378 ,294 A.2d 326 (1972). Additionally, it is important to consider whether "a position in government has such apparent importance that the public has an independent interest in the qualifications and performance of the person who holds it, beyond the general public interest in the qualifications and importance of all government employees. . . ." Rosenblatt v. Baer, supra, 86; Moriarty v. Lippe, supra. Further, it has been postulated that public figures require less protection from defamation because they tend to enjoy greater access to the media for purposes of rebutting any defamatory publication. Gertz v. Robert Welch Inc.,418 U.S. 323 ,344 ,94 S. Ct. 2997 ,41 L. Ed. 2d 789 (1974).
Numerous decisions have established that public figures, as well as public officials, must meet the high standard established in New YorkTimes to prevail in a libel case. Moreover, there must be a finding of "actual malice" by the heightened standard of clear and convincing proof.Holbrook v. Casazza,
A review of Connecticut cases indicates that a wide range of people have been determined to be "public officials" or "public figures" for First Amendment purposes. See, e.g., Woodcock v. Journal Publishing Co.,
The first question that must be answered, therefore, is whether the plaintiff in this case should be considered to be a "public figure" or "public official" and thus subjected to the heightened "actual malice" requirements of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, 376 U.S. 279. This question must not be approached mechanistically, but rather, as the United States Supreme Court counsels in Gertz v. Robert Welch Inc., supra, 418 U.S. 352, "by looking to the nature and extent of an individual's participation in the particular controversy giving rise to the defamation."
Analysis of the facts and law in this case leads to the conclusion that plaintiff — a former police officer and head of the police union — must be considered both a "public official" and a "public figure," for purposes of analysis of his claims in the first two counts, for two reasons: the first is the clearly public nature of his position itself; the second relates to the plaintiffs thrusting himself into the most public of disputes — an election campaign, although he himself was not the candidate.
That the plaintiff's position during the relevant time period, deputy sheriff, is a public position can hardly be doubted,1 as a review of General Statutes §
The relationship between a sheriff and his deputy is . . . an official and not a private relationship. The deputy is a representative of the sheriff in his official capacity. He is a public officer whose authority and duties are regulated and prescribed by law. The public generally regards the acts of a deputy sheriff as the acts of the sheriff himself. The sheriffs position in government vests in him and his deputies "substantial responsibility for or control over the conduct of governmental affairs." This is certainly true where law enforcement and police functions are concerned. Additionally, though the office of deputy sheriff may be a comparatively low ranking one in the hierarchy of government, nevertheless, if the deputy's office be abused, it has great potential for social harm and thus invites independent interest in the qualifications and performance of the person or persons who hold the position. So that, in addition to the fact that technically under our court decisions a deputy sheriff is a public official, the test of Rosenblatt v. Baer, supra, has been met, and defendant is entitled to the benefit of the rule of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan.
Given the circumstances of this case, it is also apparent that the plaintiff thrust himself into an election dispute by undertaking certain political activities. These included sending out press releases, including Defendant's Exhibit D, authoring campaign letters, and speaking to the press. One is hard-pressed to identify an event more public in nature — and more essential to a free society — than an election of public officials. Along with trials, they are among the most public of events in our state and nation. Who a public official chooses to hire, fire, promote, retain and discipline is inherently a matter of legitimate public interest and concern. As the Supreme Court of Kansas stated in Coleman v. MacLennan,
[I]t is of the utmost consequence that the people should discuss the character and qualifications of candidates for their suffrages. The importance to the state and to society of such discussions is so vast, and the advantages derived are so great, that they more than counterbalance the inconvenience of private persons whose conduct may be involved, and occasional CT Page 7151 injury to the reputations of individuals must yield to the public welfare, although at times such injury may be great. The public benefit from publicity is so great, and the chance of injury to private character so small, that such discussion must be privileged.
See also Monitor Patriot Co. v. Roy,
It is also necessary to consider whether the events at issue in this case relate to the plaintiffs "official conduct." If not, the heightened proof required by New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, 376 U.S. 279, is inapplicable. On its face, the argument that the conduct at issue is unrelated to the plaintiffs "official conduct" might seem persuasive, having concerned what began as essentially a private matter almost two decades prior to the running of the subject commercial. Analysis demonstrates, however, that the conduct does relate to the plaintiffs "official conduct" in a broad and flexible sense, for the following reasons.
First, once one enters the public arena, and particularly in the context of an election campaign, the time between what is private and what is public quickly blurs, as practical realities and many court decisions have indicated. In Monitor Patriot Co. v. Roy, supra,
The respondent argues that under New York Times a plaintiff has a special burden of proof only as to libels "relating to official conduct, " that for a candidate "official conduct" means "conduct relevant to fitness for office, " and that the public-private issue is one of fact for the jury. In our view, however, the syllogistic manipulation of distinctions between "private sectors" and "public sectors, " or matters of fact and matters of law, is of little utility in resolving questions of First Amendment protection.
In Garrison v. Louisiana, [
379 U.S. 64 (1964)], we reversed a conviction for criminal libel of a man who had charged that a group of state court judges were inefficient, took excessive vacations, opposed CT Page 7152 official investigations of vice, and were possibly subject to "racketeer influences." The Louisiana Supreme Court had held that these statements were not "criticisms, of the manner in which any one of the eight judges conducted his court when in session, " but rather were accusations of crime and "personal attacks upon the integrity and honesty" of the judges. This Court rejected the proposed distinction:"Of course, any criticism of the manner in which a public official performs his duties will tend to affect his private, as well as his public, reputation. The New York Times rule is not rendered inapplicable merely because an official's private reputation, as well as his public reputation, is harmed. The public-official rule protects the paramount public interest in a free flow of information to the people concerning public officials, their servants. To this end, anything which might touch on an official's fitness for office is relevant. Few personal attributes are more germane to fitness for office than dishonesty, malfeasance, or improper motivation, even though these characteristics may also affect the official's private character."
379 U.S., at 76-77 . Cf. Ocala Star-Banner Co. v. Damron, supra.
The considerations that led us thus to reformulate the "official conduct" rule of New York Times in terms of "anything which might touch on an official's fitness for office" apply with special force to the case of the candidate. Indeed, whatever vitality the "official conduct" concept may retain with regard to occupants of public office, cf.Garrison, supra, at 72 n. 8, it is clearly of little applicability in the context of an election campaign. The principal activity of a candidate in our political system, his "office, " so to speak, consists in putting before the voters every conceivable aspect of his public and private life that he thinks may lead the electorate to gain a good impression of him. A candidate who, for example, seeks to further his cause through the prominent display of his wife and children can hardly argue that his qualities as a husband or father remain of "purely private" concern. And the candidate who vaunts his spotless record and sterling integrity cannot convincingly cry "Foul!" when an opponent or an industrious reporter attempts to demonstrate the contrary. Any test adequate to safeguard First Amendment guarantees in this area must go far beyond CT Page 7153 the customary meaning of the phrase "official conduct."
Given the realities of our political life, it is by no means easy to see what statements about a candidate might be altogether without relevance to his fitness for the office he seeks. The clash of reputations is the staple of election campaigns, and damage to reputation is, of course, the essence of libel. But whether there remains some exiguous area of defamation against which a candidate may have full recourse is a question we need not decide in this case. The trial judge presented the issue to the jury in the form of the question: "It is more probable than otherwise that the publication that the plaintiff was a former small-time bootlegger was a public affair on a par with official conduct of public officials?" This instruction, and the others like it, left the jury far more leeway to act as censors than is consistent with the protection of the First and Fourteenth Amendments in the setting of a political campaign.
We therefore hold as a matter of constitutional law that a charge ofcriminal conduct, no matter how remote in time or place, can never beirrelevant to an official's or a candidate's fitness for office forpurposes of application of the "knowing falsehood or reckless disregard"rule of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan.
(Emphasis added; footnote omitted). Monitor Patriot Co. v. Roy, supra, 273-77; see also Time, Inc. v. Johnston,
Second, once a citizen is arrested and brought to trial, a matter is transformed from a purely private affair to a matter of public concern. As the United States Supreme Court stated in Craig v. Haney,
Finally, one can make a strong argument that the criminal histories of members of law enforcement, or quasi-law enforcement, entities is fair CT Page 7154 grist for the mill. The public has the right to know, within limits, who is enforcing the laws. Certainly, the topic is appropriate for discussion in the midst of an election campaign.
These concerns, taken together, persuade the court that the plaintiff should be subjected to the New York Times "actual malice" standard for purposes of analyzing his claims on his application for a prejudgment remedy.
D. Legal Analysis: Count One
Paragraph 14 of Count One of the Amended Complaint alleges as follows:This television commercial broadcast contained in relevant part, defamatory statements of fact which were false and known to be false by the defendants. More specifically, this television commercial represented that the plaintiff had been arrested for sexually assualting a woman at gunpoint.
This allegation consists of two parts: that the commercial represented that plaintiff had been arrested for sexually assaulting a woman; and that the assault had occurred at gunpoint. Each part requires separate discussion and analysis.
The plaintiff first argues that the statement that the plaintiff was arrested is false in its entirety because the arrest "was deemed never to have occurred pursuant to C.G.S. Section
The erasure statute operates in the legal sphere, not the historical sphere. That is, the erasure statute is designed to return a person's criminal record to the status quo when that person is found not guilty as a consequence of a final judgment, or a charge is dismissed. The erasure statute does not, and could not, purport to wipe from the public record the fact that certain historical events have taken place. Only in a totalitarian system could law purport to have such a sweeping effect. "The Erasure Act was not intended to obliterate memory or to exclude any testimony not shown to have been derived from erased records." Rado v.Board of Education,
The second part of the allegation — that the commercial asserts that the plaintiff was arrested for sexually assaulting woman atgunpoint — raises different legal issues. Examination of Defendant's Exhibit E, Brief of Appellant, State v. Jerome Martin, SC 9612, Appendix, pp. 13 and 15, indicates that there was testimony about a gun during the trial. Specifically, this exhibit, an appellate brief filed by Attorney F. Mac Buckley on behalf of Mr. Martin, references testimony by the alleged victim that while at a restaurant she asked the plaintiff for his gun, which he gave her and she placed in her pocketbook; Defendant's Exhibit E, p. 5 (referencing transcript, pp. 22-24); testimony by the alleged victim that while being forced to perform certain sexual acts "Martin was threatening to shoot her, because he had a gun and he was also yelling for his gun, " and that the alleged victim "then did not remember where her pocketbook and the gun were"; Defendant's Exhibit E, p. 8 (referencing transcript, pp. 33-34, 337-339, 344, 373); testimony by the alleged victim that Martin forced someone else to rape her, and that "This time Martin was threatening her with the actual gun." Defendant's Exhibit E, p. 8 (referencing transcript, pp. 340 and 254). Examination of the record indicates that the plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that there is probable cause to conclude that the assertion that the plaintiff was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman at gunpoint was made with "actual malice."3
The fact that a statement about a public figure may have been motivated by bad motives, ill will, or an intent to inflict harm, is not sufficient to support a finding of "actual malice." Holbrook v. Casazza, supra,
CT Page 7156 "Reckless disregard, " it is true, cannot be fully encompassed in one infallible definition. Inevitably its outer limits will be marked out through case-by-case adjudication, as is true with so many legal standards for judging concrete cases, whether the standard is provided by the Constitution, statutes, or case law. Our cases, however, have furnished meaningful guidance for the further definition of a reckless publication. In New York Times, supra, the plaintiff did not satisfy his burden because the record failed to show that the publisher was aware of the likelihood that he was circulating false information. In Garrison v. Louisana,379 U.S. 64 (1964), also decided before the decision of the Louisiana Supreme Court in this case, the opinion emphasized the necessity for a showing that a false publication was made with a "high degree of awareness of. . . probable falsity."379 U.S., at 74 . Mr. Justice Harlan's opinion in Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts,388 U.S. 130 ,153 (1967), stated that evidence of either deliberate falsification or reckless publication "despite the publisher's awareness of probable falsity" was essential to recovery by public officials in defamation actions. These cases are clear that reckless conduct is not measured by whether a reasonably prudent man would have published, or would have investigated before publishing. There must be sufficient evidence to permit the conclusion that the defendant in fact entertained serious doubts as to the truth of his publication. Publishing with such doubts shows reckless disregard for truth or falsity and demonstrates actual malice.It may be said that such a test puts a premium on ignorance, encourages the irresponsible publisher not to inquire, and permits the issue to be determined by the defendant's testimony that he published the statement in good faith and [was] unaware of its probable falsity. Concededly the reckless disregard standard may permit recovery in fewer situations that would a rule that publishers must satisfy the standard of the reasonable man or the prudent publisher. But New York Times and succeeding cases have emphasized that the stake of the people in public business and the conduct of public officials is so great that neither the defense of truth nor the standard of CT Page 7157 ordinary care would protect against self-censorship and thus adequately implement First Amendment policies. Neither lies nor false communications serve the ends of the First Amendment, and no one suggests their desirability or further proliferation. But to insure the ascertainment and publication of the truth about public affairs, it is essential that the First Amendment protect some erroneous publications as well as true ones. We adhere to this view and to the line which our cases have drawn between false communications which are protected and those which are not.
(Emphasis added.)
Under governing legal standards, the plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that the defendant Griffin acted with "actual malice" in connection with the allegation that the plaintiff sexually assaulted someone "at gunpoint." See Washington Post Co. v. Keogh,
E. Legal Analysis: Count Two
Count Two alleges as follows:
1. Paragraphs one through thirteen of the First Count are hereby incorporated and made Paragraphs one through thirteen of this, the Second Count, as if more fully set forth herein.14. This television commercial broadcast contained in relevant part, defamatory statements of fact which were false and known to be false by the defendants. More specifically, this television commercial:
(a) Represented that High Sheriff Walter Kupchunos had hired convicted felons to serve as deputy sheriffs;
(b) Represented that the plaintiff had been arrested for sexually assaulting a woman at gunpoint; and
(c) Displayed a series of identification cards for several CT Page 7158 unnamed ex-convicts.
14. These defamatory statements of fact expressed, or otherwise implied by design, that the plaintiff is a convict and a felon in an effort to impart upon the listener or viewer by inference or innuendo, the false notion that the plaintiff had been convicted of a felonious crime.15. The defendants omitted material facts from the television commercial, namely, the fact that the plaintiffs felony conviction was overturned by the Connecticut Supreme Court, which omission gave rise, in whole or in part, to the false innuendo or inference that the plaintiff had been convicted of a felonious crime.
16. The defendants' conduct caused the plaintiff to suffer emotional distress, loss of income, and harmed the plaintiff's reputation.
The gist of the plaintiff's allegation in Count Two is that he was defamed because the commercial omitted the material fact that his felony conviction was overturned, and that, taken as a whole, the commercial imparted the false notion that the plaintiff was a convicted felon. In essence, Count Two is alleging two different, although closely related, theories: that the plaintiff was defamed due to the overall implication created by the commercial; and that the plaintiff was defamed due to theomission of material facts.4
Before evaluating the issues presented, a review of the precise words used in the commercial is necessary. The precise words used, and the context within which they appear, must be carefully considered. West v.Thomson Newspapers,
The commercial in this case does not by its terms state that the plaintiff was once convicted of a felony; nor does it by its terms state that the plaintiff is a convicted felon. Rather, the facesheet of the reported decision in State of Connecticut v. Jerome Martin identifies the plaintiff by name while the words "Arrested for raping a 24 year old girl CT Page 7159 at gunpoint" are seen.
The plaintiff claims, however, that these words, juxtaposed with his name, viewed in the context of the rest of the advertisement would lead the average viewer interpreting language in its normal way to conclude that the plaintiff had been convicted of the felonious crime of raping a 24-year-old girl, and doing so at gunpoint. This raises an interesting issue. What inferences the average viewer might draw from viewing the advertisement are not entirely clear. With respect to whether a communication is defamatory, the issue is how the ordinary reader or viewer would naturally understand the language used. Rose v. Koch,
The plaintiff also contends that the advertisement implies that plaintiff is a convict and a felon, that is, that he presently remains a convict and a felon. See Count Two, ¶ 15. This, the plaintiff contends, is defamatory. Assuming for the sake of argument that the advertisement is susceptible to such an interpretation by the average viewer, a legal question must be confronted: Can someone with the plaintiffs status at the time of the advertisement be defamed as a consequence of the omission of a material fact in a campaign commercial? I conclude that this presents a close issue given the facts of this case but that the answer to the question under Strada v. ConnecticutNewspapers, Inc., supra,
The parties both cite the Strada case in support of their arguments, but each side contends for a substantially different reading of that case. In Strada, the plaintiff was a former state senator who claimed that he had been defamed by a newspaper article published seven days before an election. The trial court held that "there can be no libel by innuendo if the challenged communication is true and concerns public officers and public affairs even though a false implication may reasonably be drawn by the public." (Internal quotation marks omitted.)Strada v. Connecticut Newspapers. Inc., supra,
The plaintiffs next claim of error goes to "numerous stylistic and journalistic innuendoes and inferences, which reflected adversely on the reputation of the CT Page 7160 Plaintiff." We have already concluded that the trial court was correct in its finding that the article was composed of true or substantially true statements. The trial court did not decide whether a reasonable reader might draw a false inference from certain statements as alleged by the plaintiff. Rather, the trial court held that "there can be no libel by innuendo if the challenged communication is true and concerns public officers and public affairs even though a false implication may reasonably be drawn by the public."Innuendo or inference may result merely from the tone or "slant" of an article, or innuendo or inference may also result from the failure to present the whole picture. In Memphis Publishing Co. v. Nichols,
569 S.W.2d 412 (Tenn. 1978), a newspaper article correctly stated that the plaintiff had been shot when she had been found with another woman's husband. The article neglected to report, however, the additional fact that the plaintiff and the other woman's husband were at a social gathering, the several members of which included the plaintiff's husband. The clear inference from the article was an adulterous affair; the additional fact clarified the plaintiffs position as an innocent bystander. But in the present case, the plaintiff seeks to recover from a publication where all the underlying and stated facts have been proved to be true, or substantially true, claiming that the "slant" of the article gives rise to allegedly false and defamatory implications. Unlike Memphis Publishing Co. v. Nichols, supra, the plaintiff here has not alleged, nor has our examination of the record disclosed, the existence of additional material facts which, if reported, would have changed the tone of the article. In the absence of such undisclosed facts, first amendment considerations dictate that an article concerning a public figure composed of true or substantially true statements is not defamatory regardless of the tone or innuendo evident.The goal of nurturing a free and active press in the political arena mandates denial of recovery by a public figure where the allegation of defamation "depends fundamentally on an interpretation of various aspects of the broadcast, not anything directly said CT Page 7161 in it." Pierce v. Capital Cities Communications, Inc.,
576 F.2d 495 ,500 (3d Cir.), cert. denied,439 U.S. 861 ,99 S. Ct. 181 ,58 L. Ed. 2d 170 (1978).The cases in other jurisdictions that have considered this issue support this view. Recovery was denied in Loeb v. New Times Communications Corporation,
497 F. Sup. 85 (S.D.N.Y. 1980), where the court specifically found that "[t]he authors' clear intent was to portray an overwhelmingly negative picture of Loeb by presenting purported examples of his ridiculous idiosyncrasies and prejudices, shady political maneuverings, and dishonest reporting practices." Id. 88-89. In spite of the "suggestive context, " the article was constitutionally protected because the "defendants have reported the facts accurately and carefully, avoiding the defamatory conclusion which Loeb claims they intended the reader to draw." Id., 91.In Mihalik v. Duprey,
11 Mass. App. 602 ,417 N.E.2d 1238 (1981), each individual statement published in a "riddle" about a public figure was true. The court held that recovery could not be had "merely because in the aggregate they have an insinuating overtone." Id.In a Louisiana case the public official plaintiff admitted "there was nothing factually incorrect in the article. However, "the way people looked at the thing' he was accused of misusing state funds for personal benefit." Schaefer v. Lynch,
406 So. 2d 185 ,188 (La. 1981). The court there held that "truthful statements which carry a defamatory implication can be actionable. However, that is only true in the case of private citizens and private affairs. Even false statements about public officials are constitutionally protected unless known to be false or printed with a reckless disregard for the truth. New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, [376 U.S. 254 ,84 S. Ct. 710 ,11 L. Ed. 2d 686 (1964)]. It surely follows that all truthful statements are also constitutionally protected. Even though a false implication may be drawn by the public, there is no redress for its servant. Where public officers and public affairs are concerned, there can be no libel CT Page 7162 by innuendo." Id.Still another court held that: "Unless he can successfully identify particular false statements that, taken in context, create the impression he is a "throwback to the middle ages, ' [the plaintiff doctor] cannot complain." Rinsley v. Brandt,
700 F.2d 1304 ,1310 (10th Cir. 1983). A publisher cannot be responsible for every strained interpretation that a plaintiff might attribute to its words. See Lewis v. Time Inc.,710 F.2d 549 ,553-56 (9th Cir. 1983); Cibenko v. Worth Publishers, Inc.,510 F. Sup. 761 ,765 (D.N.J. 1981)."The Court is aware that any article replete with snide innuendoes can be hurtful to a subject, and indeed may damage him in his business reputation. But if he is a public figure, then he must bear the risk of such publicity as the price he pays for conducting activities or business in the public arena." Reliance Ins. Co. v. Barron's,
442 F. Sup. 1341 ,1352 (S.D.N Y 1977). "An individual who decides to seek governmental office must accept certain necessary consequences of that involvement in public affairs. He runs the risk of closer public scrutiny than might otherwise be the case. And society's interest in the officers or government is not strictly limited to the formal discharge of official duties." Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.,418 U.S. 323 ,344 ,94 S. Ct. 2997 ,41 L. Ed. 2d 789 (1974); see Garrison v. Louisiana,379 U.S. 64 ,77 ,85 S. Ct. 209 ,13 L. Ed. 2d 125 (1964). The defendants have no obligation to place the plaintiff in the most favorable light. Rinsley v. Brandt, 6 Med.L.Rptr. 1222 (D. Kan. 1980), aff'd,700 F.2d 1304 (10th Cir. 1983); McIntire v. Westinghouse Broadcasting Co.,479 F. Sup. 808 (D. Mass. 1979).When any inference or innuendo does not arise from the omission of material facts, but rather from the editorial choice of layout, the plaintiff may not recover for libel by innuendo. The media would be unduly burdened if, in addition to reporting facts about public officers and public affairs correctly, it had to be vigilant for any possibly defamatory implication arising from the report of those true CT Page 7163 facts. "[T]he pall of fear and timidity imposed upon those who would give voice to public criticism is an atmosphere in which the First Amendment freedoms cannot survive." New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, 278; see Washington Post Co. v. Keogh,
365 F.2d 965 ,968 (D.C. Cir. 1966).The result we reach in this case, which undeniably may have a harsh impact on those persons who are public figures, is a corollary to the privilege accorded false statements concerning public officials published without malice. Just as the goal of a free and active press protects false statements of fact regarding public figures published without malice, so too must the law protect truthful facts that may give rise to false innuendo or inference. . . . Under the circumstances of this case, the trial court did not err in concluding as a matter of law that there could be no libel by innuendo of a public figure where the challenged communication is true.
(Citations omitted; emphasis added; footnotes omitted.) Strada v.Connecticut Newspapers, Inc., supra,
The reason the parties in this case cite Strada for different propositions is that Strada can indeed be read to encompass different propositions. It stands for the proposition, as the defendants contend, that a public figure plaintiff may not recover for libel by inference where the challenged communication is true. It also stands for the proposition, as the plaintiff contends, that a public figure may maintain an action for libel by inference where the inference or innuendo arises from the omission of material facts.5
In Count Two, the plaintiff is in effect alleging as follows: that he was defamed by implication because the advertisement would lead the reasonable viewer to conclude that he had been convicted of a felony; and that he was defamed by omission because the reasonable viewer, having concluded that he was convicted of a felony, was not informed that his conviction was subsequently reversed.
On careful consideration, I conclude that the claim set out in Count Two is too attenuated to prevail in light of the overall broad thrust ofStrada. If the advertisement explicitly stated that the plaintiff had been convicted of a felony, a different result might obtain. Then, the argument that the omission to mention the reversal of the. conviction is actionable would have support under Strada. But the advertisement does CT Page 7164 not so state. The reasons that led the court to deny the plaintiffs claim in Strada are equally applicable here, notwithstanding some of the factors which distinguish Strada from this case. They include a desire to foster open and vigorous debate about matters of public concern and the desirability of creating an environment in which the press will avoid self-censorship. They also include the inadvisability of overinvolving the courts in superintending election campaigns. As our Supreme Court cautioned in Charles Parker Co. v. Silver City Crystal Co., supra,
Any political campaign is a process of debate and appeal publicly conducted in a way to bring knowledge to the voters to assist them in making a choice on election day. It is a time-honored American institution indispensable to our way of life. Courts must be careful not to permit the law of libel and slander to encroach unwarrantably upon the field of free public debate.
See also Monitor Patriot Co. v. Roy, supra, 401 U.S. 275 ("Given the realities of our political life, it is by no means easy to see what statements about a candidate might be altogether without relevance to his fitness for the office he seeks. The clash of reputations is the staple of election campaigns, and damage to reputation is, of course, the essence of libel."). As one commentator famously remarked: "if actionable defamation is possible in this field, one might suppose that the chief energies of the courts, for some time after every political campaign, would be absorbed by libel and slander suits." Noel, "Defamation of Public Officers and Candidates, " 49 Col. Law Rev. 875 (1949).
A final concern relates to the time, cost and expense of exposing candidates for public office to litigation for libel suits. Easy access to such suits might impose substantial litigation costs on candidates with fewer resources who might be less willing to engage in the rough and tumble which public campaigns often entail.
Conclusion
This case involves someone formerly a public figure who, by virtue of his position and activities, again attained public figure status. While not himself a candidate, he thrust himself into a political campaign in which the issue of the criminal histories of members of the sheriff's department became an issue. As such, the "actual malice" standards of NewYork Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, 376 U.S. 279, apply.
Whether the public approves of political advertisements such as the one CT Page 7165 at issue here is ultimately an issue for the voters to decide when they render their verdict at the ballot box on election day. The Court is aware that cases like this may lead to results that some consider harsh. However, the narrow legal issue presented is whether the plaintiff has demonstrated probable cause to believe that he will prevail. For the reasons stated above, given the need to protect robust speech in the context of an election campaign and provide the breathing room the First Amendment requires, the Court concludes that the plaintiff has failed to make the required showing in light of Strada and other controlling cases. The plaintiffs application is therefore denied.6
Douglas S. Lavine Judge, Superior Court
Craig v. Harney , 331 U.S. 367 ( 1947 )
Garrison v. Louisiana , 85 S. Ct. 209 ( 1964 )
Hagler v. Democrat-News, Inc. , 1985 Mo. App. LEXIS 3616 ( 1985 )
Mihalik v. Duprey , 11 Mass. App. Ct. 602 ( 1981 )
Ocala Star-Banner Co. v. Damron , 91 S. Ct. 628 ( 1971 )
Cantrell v. Forest City Publishing Co. , 95 S. Ct. 465 ( 1974 )
Cline v. Brown , 24 N.C. App. 209 ( 1974 )
Jerome R. Lewis v. Time Incorporated , 710 F.2d 549 ( 1983 )
Donald B. Rinsley, M.D. v. Anthony Brandt and William ... , 700 F.2d 1304 ( 1983 )
The Washington Post Company v. Eugene J. Keogh , 365 F.2d 965 ( 1966 )
Dacey v. Connecticut Bar Assn. , 170 Conn. 520 ( 1976 )
Moriarty v. Lippe , 162 Conn. 371 ( 1972 )
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan , 84 S. Ct. 710 ( 1964 )
Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc. v. Connaughton , 109 S. Ct. 2678 ( 1989 )
Time, Inc., a New York Corporation, Appellant-Cross-... , 448 F.2d 378 ( 1971 )
Linus Pauling v. News Syndicate Company, Inc. , 335 F.2d 659 ( 1964 )
James Miller v. News Syndicate Co., Inc., Helen Parthenios ... , 445 F.2d 356 ( 1971 )
Humiston v. Bishop , 29 Conn. Super. Ct. 324 ( 1971 )
Munger v. Elizabeth Doolan , 75 Conn. 656 ( 1903 )