Case Name: Willie GRIFFIN, Appellant, v. DELTA DEMOCRAT TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY, Dan Way, Individually, and Rick Thomason, Individually, Appellees
Court: Mississippi Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 2002-04-23
Citations: 815 So. 2d 1246
Docket Number: No. 2000-CA-02067-COA
Parties: Willie GRIFFIN, Appellant, v. DELTA DEMOCRAT TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY, Dan Way, Individually, and Rick Thomason, Individually, Appellees.
Judges: Before SOUTHWICK, P.J., LEE, and CHANDLER, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 815
Pages: 1246–1255

Head Matter:
Willie GRIFFIN, Appellant, v. DELTA DEMOCRAT TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY, Dan Way, Individually, and Rick Thomason, Individually, Appellees.
No. 2000-CA-02067-COA.
Court of Appeals of Mississippi.
April 23, 2002.
Charles Victor McTeer, Jackson, Ray-ford G. Chambers, Greenville, attorneys for appellant.
Lawrence D. Wade, Greenville, John A. Bussian, Raleigh, NC, attorneys for appel-lee.
Before SOUTHWICK, P.J., LEE, and CHANDLER, JJ.

Opinion:
LEE, J., for the court.
¶ 1. Willie Griffin filed a complaint asserting libel against the Delta Democrat Times Publishing Company, Dan Way, individually, and Rick Thomason, individually. Thereafter, Griffin attempted to conduct discovery with the Delta Democrat Times Publishing Company, Dan Way, individually, and Rick Thomason, individually. However, the Delta Democrat Times Publishing Company, Dan Way, and Rick Thomason refused to answer discovery and instead responded to Griffin's requests for discovery by filing a motion for summary judgment, as well as a motion to stay discovery. The trial court failed to directly address the issue of discovery in his order, but granted the motion for summary judgment. Feeling aggrieved, Griffin filed a timely appeal and presents the following issues: (1) whether the trial judge erred when he classified Griffin as a public official for the purpose of his burden of proof regarding his libel claim and (2) whether the trial judge erred when he granted the motion for summary judgment without Griffin having the benefit of discovery regarding the Delta Democrat Times Publishing Company, Dan Way, and Rick Tho-mason. We find that issue one is without merit. However, issue two has merit; therefore, this Court reverses and remands the case for discovery.
FACTS
¶ 2. The Delta Democrat Times published an article regarding accusations of unethical conduct by Municipal Court Judge Michael Prewitt. This article was written by Maria Burnham, and contributed to by staff writer William F. West and editor Dan Way. The contributions by Dan Way are the basis of the claim of libel asserted by Griffin. Dan Way added the statement that "The Internal Affairs Division determined there was no evidence to conclude Wynn [sic] was a racist, as claimed by Moore, Councilman Larry Farmer and attorneys Eric Hawkins and Willie Griffin." At the time of this publication Griffin was not only an attorney, but he served as legal counsel for the Board of Supervisors of Washington County.
¶ 3. In response to this statement, Willie Griffin wrote a letter to Dan Way asserting that he had never called Judge Prewitt a racist and demanded a complete retraction. The Delta Democrat Times did not print a retraction of the statement. Thereafter, Griffin filed his complaint alleging libel on behalf of the Delta Democrat Times, Dan Way, and Rick Thomason.
¶ 4. Griffin immediately pursued discovery from all of the parties involved; however, each party refused to respond. Thereafter, the Delta Democrat Times, Dan Way, and Rick Thomason filed their motion for summary judgment and motion to stay discovery. The motion for summary judgment was granted without addressing the issue of discovery.
DISCUSSION
I. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED WHEN HE CLASSIFIED GRIFFIN AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF HIS BURDEN OF PROOF REGARDING HIS LIBEL CLAIM.
¶ 5. Griffin argues that the trial judge erred when he classified him as a public official and held him to a higher standard for proving libel as stated in New York Times, Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 279-80, 84 S.Ct. 710, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964). Griffin contends that he should not be considered a public official for the purpose of this action because: (1) he was a private attorney with a governmental client (i.e., the Washington County Board of Supervisors) and (2) because the statement attributed to him in the Delta Democrat Times failed to reference his public capacity.
¶ 6. The Delta Democrat Times, Dan Way, and Rick Thomason contend that Griffin falls squarely within the definition of a public official and that the actual malice standard applies. Additionally, not only is Griffin a public official, but he also fits the definition of a public figure which also requires that Griffin prove his case by showing clearly convincing evidence of actual malice. Furthermore, they assert that regardless of Griffin's status, Mississippi applies an actual malice standard to matters of public concern or interest.
¶ 7. New York Times Co., 376 U.S. at 279-80, 84 S.Ct. 710, created the "actual malice" standard to apply to public officials in defamation cases. This coverage was later extended to cover public figures who did not hold a government office. See Curtis Publ'g Co. v. Butts, 388 U.S. 130, 155, 87 S.Ct. 1975, 18 L.Ed.2d 1094 (1967). Chief Justice Warren defined a "public figure" as those individuals who are "intimately involved in the resolution of important public questions or, by reason of their fame, shape events in areas of concern to society at large." Id. at 164, 87 S.Ct. 1975.
¶ 8. In this case, we find that under the law Griffin is afforded no relief from having to prove actual malice regarding any libelous statement. This is due to the fact that even if this Court did not classify him as a public official, we determine that his involvement in this matter conforms to the definition of a "public figure." The issue of whether Judge Prewitt was uneth ical was a matter of public concern for Greenville, Mississippi residents, and Griffin voluntarily involved himself in the resolution of this matter. Accordingly, this issue is without merit.
II. WHETHER THE TRIAL JUDGE ERRED WHEN HE GRANTED THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT WITHOUT GRIFFIN HAVING THE BENEFIT OF DISCOVERY REGARDING THE DELTA DEMOCRAT TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY, DAN WAY, INDIVIDUALLY, AND RICK THOMASON, INDIVIDUALLY.
¶ 9. Griffin argues that the trial judge prematurely granted the motion for summary judgment filed by the Delta Democrat Times, Dan Way, individually, and Rick Thomason, individually, because it was granted before Griffin had the benefit of discovery from these parties. Griffin asserts that he served interrogatories for each party and made requests for the depositions of Dan Way and Rick Thomason, only to be met with refusal by these parties. Griffin primarily relies upon the United States Supreme Court case of Herbert v. Lando, 441 U.S. 153, 99 S.Ct. 1635, 60 L.Ed.2d 115 (1979), to support his argument.
¶ 10. The Delta Democrat Times, Dan Way, and Rick Thomason assert that the trial judge is vested with broad discretion to limit discovery and he was within those limits. Additionally, they argue'that summary judgment was appropriate because Griffin failed to meet his burden of proof and show by clear and convincing evidence that the statement regarding him in the Delta Democrat Times was published with actual malice as required by New York Times Co., 376 U.S. at 279-80, 84 S.Ct. 710.
¶ 11. Since we have concluded that Griffin is governed by the actual malice standard in New York Times, when the trial judge reviewed the motion for summary judgment he was required to determine if the evidence before him would support a reasonable jury finding that Griffin had demonstrated actual malice with convincing clarity. However, before the trial judge examined this issue, he should have addressed the more introductory matter of whether summary judgment was premature because of the lack of discovery.
¶ 12. The Delta Democrat Times, Dan Way, and Rick Thomason assert that summary judgment was appropriate without additional discovery because the statement was not defamatory. The trial judge has previously addressed this issue in his order by stating that the written statement was inaccurate.
¶ 13. Griffin and Mayor Artman, whom Griffin initially consulted about Judge Prewitt, assert that Griffin was conveying the concerns of others and did not directly call Judge Prewitt a racist. On the other hand, the statement printed by the Delta Democrat Times asserted that Griffin claimed Judge Prewitt was a racist. On its face, this is not a true reflection of what Griffin had stated, and the difference was not insubstantial. See Blake v. Gannett Co., Inc., 529 So.2d 595, 602-03 (Miss.1988). Nevertheless, at this point in this case, the difference does not equate with liability. It must first be determined whether Griffin can show with convincing clarity that the statement was made with actual malice. For reasons discussed below, the determination of whether there is a jury question regarding the defamatory nature of the statement will have to be revisited by the court below.
¶ 14. "This Court may only reverse the trial judge's ruling regarding discovery if we find that there has been an abuse of discretion." Warren v. Sandoz Pharm. Corp., 783 So.2d 735, 738(¶5) (Miss.Ct.App.2000). To determine whether there has been an abuse we consider the language in Herbert v. Lando, 441 U.S. 153, 170, 99 S.Ct. 1635, 60 L.Ed.2d 115 (1979).
¶ 15. Herbert v. Lando, was a defamation case brought by a public figure in which the United States Supreme Court addressed whether the First and Fourteenth Amendments should be construed to provide additional protection to the press when sued for defamation. Herbert, 441 U.S. at 155, 99 S.Ct. 1635. Lando was requesting that the United States Supreme Court hold as follows:
when a member of the press is alleged to have circulated damaging falsehoods and is sued for injury to the plaintiffs reputation, the plaintiff is barred from inquiring into the editorial processes of those responsible for the publication, even though the inquiry would produce evidence material to the proof of a critical element of his cause of action.
Id. The court declined to accept this request. Id. at 170, 99 S.Ct. 1635.
¶ 16. Instead, the United States Supreme Court held that the First Amendment afforded no such evidentiary privilege. Id. at 175, 99 S.Ct. 1635. Such a privilege was denied because it would substantially interfere with the ability of the individual who brought the defamation action to establish malice as required by New York Times. Id. at 170, 99 S.Ct. 1635. In a defamation action, the requirement of actual malice on the part of the author has nothing to do with any anger or ill feelings in the defamer's heart, but whether the statement was published with the knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard for its veracity. 2 Rodney Smol-la, Smolla & Nimmer On Freedom Of Speech § 23:3 (2000). Therefore, the plaintiff would be entitled to use discovery to inquire into the decision-making processes involved in a particular story. Id. In Herbert, the United States Supreme Court also addressed an issue of concern in our case regarding the possibility of self-serving statements by defendants involved in a defamation action. Herbert, 441 U.S. at 170, 99 S.Ct. 1635.
¶ 17. The United States Supreme Court acknowledged that rarely will a defendant admit his awareness of a falsehood. Id. Naturally, defendants will be prone to assert their good-faith belief in the truth of their publication, and if the plaintiff were denied discovery it would make it difficult to prove knowing or reckless falsehood with "convincing clarity." Id.
¶ 18. In this case, Griffin had the benefit of the deposition of Mayor Artman and affidavits from Dan Way and Rick Thoma-son. The deposition of Mayor Artman stated that Griffin had approached him to discuss allegations of racism regarding Judge Prewitt; however, Mayor Artman explained that these were not direct allegations made by Griffin. Instead, Griffin was merely conveying what he had heard from others. Mayor Artman also confirmed that he had spoken to Dan Way and had confirmed that the allegations of racism had started with Griffin. Additionally, as recognized by the United States Supreme Court in Herbert, after portions of the affidavit of Dan Way had been stricken it asserted that "the article was written and published in good faith to inform the Delta Democrat Time's readers about a matter of public concern." After portions of the affidavit of Rick Thomason were struck, it asserted that before the article in question had been published he had not reviewed it, had not been consulted about it, and was not aware of its existence. These statements do not allow Griffin knowledge of the subjective, editorial, decision-making process as contemplated by Herbert v. Lando. Therefore, Griffin was denied full discovery.
¶ 19. Under the law the trial judge abused his discretion and prematurely granted the motion for summary judgment without Griffin having had the benefit of full discovery. Accordingly, this Court reverses and remands this case for Griffin to conduct discovery to explore the editorial, decision-making processes that were employed by the Delta Democrat Times, Dan Way and Rick Thomason.
¶ 20. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF WASHINGTON COUNTY IS REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO THE APPEL-LEES.
McMILLIN, C.J., SOUTHWICK, P.J., BRIDGES, THOMAS, MYERS, CHANDLER AND BRANTLEY, JJ" CONCUR. IRVING, J., CONCURS IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION. KING, P.J., NOT PARTICIPATING.