Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-03772/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-03772-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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U

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States District C

o

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rt

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

John Frederic Garmon,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

Peralta Community College District,

et al., 

 Defendant(s).

_____________________________/

No. C 04-3772 WDB

ORDER RE PLAINTIFF'S STATUS

AS A "PUBLIC OFFICIAL"

At the April 3, 2006, hearing in this matter, the Court notified the parties that

it was this Court's tentative ruling that Mr. Garmon constitutes a "public official" for

purposes of his claim for defamation. The Court explicitly described the factual basis

for this ruling. The Court also instructed plaintiff's counsel that, if plaintiff wanted

to challenge this ruling, plaintiff would have until Thursday, April 6, at 4:00 p.m. to

file a motion along with supporting evidence requesting a ruling that Mr. Garmon

constitutes a "private individual" for purposes of his defamation claim. 

Following the hearing, this Court issued a written order that states, 

By Thursday, April 6, 2006, at 4:00 p.m., . . . 

(1) Plaintiff must file his motion, if any, for a ruling that Mr. Garmon is not

a "public official" as that phrase is used in connection with plaintiff's

defamation claim.

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 81 Filed 04/07/06 Page 1 of 2
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See, Order re Defendants' Motion to Dismiss and Motion to Strike, filed April 4,

2006.

As of April 7, 2006, at noon, plaintiff had not filed a motion seeking to change

the Court's tentative ruling on this matter or submitted any evidence from which the

Court might reconsider its ruling.

Therefore, the Court PROHIBITS plaintiff from attempting to persuade this

Court or the trier of fact that Mr. Garmon is a private individual for purposes of his

defamation claim. Furthermore, the Court DEEMS Mr. Garmon a "public official."

The jury instructions relating to plaintiff's defamation claim will be those appropriate

for a claim by a public official and will require plaintiff to prove by clear and

convincing evidence that defendants knew the allegedly defamatory statements were

false or had serious doubts about the truth of the statements.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 7, 2006 /s/ Wayne D. Brazil 

WAYNE D. BRAZIL

United States Magistrate Judge

Copies to:

Parties, WDB

stats

Case 4:04-cv-03772-WDB Document 81 Filed 04/07/06 Page 2 of 2