Opinion ID: 1775658
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Truth as a Matter of Law

Text: Casso claims that summary judgment was proper because he established the truth of the statements in question as a matter of law. [3] This argument is not persuasive. First, Casso never even claimed, much less proved, that all of the statements in issue were true. His summary judgment affidavit stated only that Captain Borman's testimony established that Brand ordered the destruction of certain tapes regarding police brutality. Casso's proof was absolutely silent about the truth or falsity of the other allegedly defamatory remarks. Moreover, Casso's proof does not even establish the truth of Borman's testimony. That another person has made a statement, even under oath, simply does not establish its truth as a matter of law. Casso's proof merely goes to his own state of mind, not the truth of what he said.