Opinion ID: 3029627
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: “Loose, Figurative or Hyperbolic” Language

Text: The Majority next reasons that the term “pimp” is “loose, figurative or hyperbolic” language and is therefore not capable of defamatory meaning. See Majority Op. at III.B.2. Not so. First, there is nothing “loose, figurative or hyperbolic” about the term “pimp.” The noun describes criminal activity in Montana,8 and should be especially loathsome to the “hip” 7 Alas, for plaintiff Hughes, in California, truth is still a defense. See Hughes v. Hughes, 122 Cal. App. 4th 931 (Sept. 28, 2004) (plaintiff alleged that statement “our dad’s a pimp” was defamatory; defendants contended that truth was a defense under California law; by special verdict, the jury held that defendants did not defame plaintiff; plaintiff appealed on the ground that, inter alia, the evidence in support of the verdict was insufficient and the court gave an erroneous jury instruction; California Court of Appeal affirmed, holding that evidence of past and present actions was sufficient and relevant to a determination of whether the allegedly defamatory statement was true and the jury was properly instructed). But note, Hughes got a trial; his complaint was not dismissed. 8 See MONT. CODE ANN. § 45-5-602(1)(e) (“[a] person commits the [felony] offense of promoting prostitution if the person purposely or knowingly . . . procures a prostitute for a patron”). Moreover, procuring a prostitute is illegal in Nevada where the photograph was taken. See NEV. STAT. ANN. § § 201.300(1)(a), (f) et seq. (“[a] person who: (a) [i]nduces, persuades, encourages, inveigles, entices or compels a person to become a prostitute or to continue to engage in prostitution . . . (f) [r]eceives, gives or agrees to receive or give any money or thing of value for procuring or attempting to procure a person to become a prostitute or to come into this state for the purpose of prostitution is guilty of pandering”). 60 KNIEVEL v. ESPN who sometimes espouse political correctness, for it connotes despicable sexist conduct of domination and exploitation. Second, the terms used to describe the other individuals ESPN displayed in the photo gallery implicitly allude to an individual’s promiscuity (“share the love”; “hottie”), conceit and self-centeredness (“throwing down a pose”), drinking prowess (“put a few back”), attitude (“hardcore”) and general hipness (“give a shout out to EXPN”). Slang is used to describe being left alone, greeting someone or drinking beer. These terms are aptly deemed “loose, figurative and hyperbolic” phrases. On the other hand, the description of Knievel is unique. While all the others are described in terms implying fun-filled misconduct of one sort or another, only Knievel was described as a criminal, per dictionary definition. For example, the promiscuous women are called “hotties”, not “whores” or “sluts”; the beer-drinkers are not called “public drunks.” None of the other terms describes any criminal activity, much less the loathsome anti-feminist characteristics of a “pimp.” The “loose, figurative and hyperbolic” language used to describe the other individuals actually highlights the fact that while all others are described as sexy, hip and with-it, the hard, factual description of plaintiff as a criminal and abuser of women is reserved for Knievel. Courts have recognized that “[s]tatements that could reasonably be understood as imputing specific criminal or other wrongful acts are not entitled to constitutional protection merely because they are phrased in the form of an opinion.” Standing Committee on Discipline v. Yagman, 55 F.3d 1430, 1440 (9th Cir. 1995) (statement that judge was “drunk on the bench” was action- able and not mere rhetorical hyperbole). It may well be that some people reading the web site take “pimp” to be a commendation indicating “cool,” but that is not what the complaint has alleged, nor what the district court KNIEVEL v. ESPN 61 found to be a reasonable interpretation (before that interpretation was massaged by tendentious interpretations of “context”). See Knievel v. ESPN, Inc., 223 F. Supp. 2d 1173, 1180 & n. 1 (D. Mont. 2002) (concluding that “[t]he Court concludes that use of the term pimp is capable of the meaning prescribed by Plaintiffs: that Evel and Krystal Knievel were involved in criminal activity involving prostitution”). Is it so “unreasonable” to conceive of an executive of a certain age, concerned with his market share of “average person” consumers, believing that a reputed daredevil has decided to supplement his income by living off “his ladies,” a couple of which are shown in the photo? Again, so long as a reasonable interpretation is defamatory, plaintiff has stated a claim for relief. See Kaelin, 162 F.3d at 1040. 3. Third Prong: Susceptibility of Being Proven True or False Finally, under the Ninth Circuit’s three-part test, the court must determine whether the “statement itself is sufficiently factual to be susceptible of being proved true or false.” Underwager, 69 F.3d at 366. This is the strongest element in favor of plaintiff. Whether one is a “hottie” may depend upon who is saying it, and, perhaps, his recognized expertise in identifying “hotties.” One man’s “hottie” may be another’s “dog.” It may depend against whom one is being compared. Different speakers can mean different things by that term. Similarly, “hardcore.” These are relative adjectives defining subjective attitudes of sexual prowess or promiscuity and attitude. In contradistinction, “pimp” has a literal dictionary definition that is clearly susceptible of being proven true or false. The Majority eludes this inconvenient fact when it ignores the dictionary definition and simply takes the “slang” definition of “pimp” as the only usage which the law allows. It is uncon62 KNIEVEL v. ESPN troverted that, in the literal sense of the word, the term pimp “is sufficiently factual to be susceptible to being proved true or false.” Majority Op. at III.B.2. However, the Majority assumes that the question is whether the slang usage of “pimp” is capable of being proven true or false. Not surprisingly, the Majority concludes it is not. It seems equally plausible that, when used in the slang sense, the term “pimp” is irreducibly subjective and not capable of being proved true or false. However, the Majority’s analysis begs the question by impermissibly reducing the possible meaning of “pimp” from common usage to slang. Moreover, the Majority’s reasoning is contrary to the caselaw: the issue is whether an “average person” in the community (not just the slang users) would consider the term “pimp” defamatory.