Opinion ID: 2229677
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: intentional or negligent publication of statements defaming nelson.

Text: Nelson next claims that WEB caused statements to be published which injured and defamed him. WEB asserts that Nelson is a limited purpose public figure; therefore, he must show by clear and convincing evidence that WEB acted with actual malice in order to prevail in a libel action. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 244, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2508, 91 L.Ed.2d 202, 209 (1986) (citing New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 279-80, 84 S.Ct. 710, 725-26, 11 L.Ed.2d 686, 706 (1964)); Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts, 388 U.S. 130, 87 S.Ct. 1975, 18 L.Ed.2d 1094 (1967), reh'g denied, 389 U.S. 889, 88 S.Ct. 11, 19 L.Ed.2d 197 (1967). Whether a person is a public figure for purposes of a libel action is initially a question of law for the trial court. Rosenblatt v. Baer, 383 U.S. 75, 88, 86 S.Ct. 669, 677, 15 L.Ed.2d 597, 606 (1966); Bufalino v. Detroit Magazine, Inc., 433 Mich. 766, 449 N.W.2d 410, 413 (1989). Additionally, a court may find that a person loses the status of an ordinary citizen and becomes a limited public figure for the purpose of the action in which the controversy arose. Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc. 418 U.S. 323, 351, 94 S.Ct. 2997, 3013, 41 L.Ed.2d 789, 812 (1974). In Gertz, the Court held that an individual who voluntarily injects himself or is drawn into a particular public controversy may become a public figure for a limited range of issues. Id. We have previously determined that WEB was not a public corporation for purposes of applying SDCL 5-19-3. Dahme Constr. Co. v. WEB Water Dev. Ass'n, 438 N.W.2d 550, 553 (S.D.1989) (holding that WEB is not subject to public control sufficient to require application of South Dakota's preference in public contract statute). However, that finding is not determinative of the question of whether Nelson is a limited purpose public figure for purposes of defamation. The circuit court found that Nelson was a limited purpose public figure. It determined that WEB is a large, nonprofit corporation of great importance to many South Dakotans who are members of the corporation. It found the media has shown a continued interest in the activities of WEB and that Nelson himself authored newspaper articles about WEB. Accordingly, the court found that Nelson, by becoming involved in a public controversy pertaining to WEB, was a limited purpose public figure. A public figure may recover damages for alleged defamation only upon a showing of actual malice. New York Times, 376 U.S. at 285-86, 84 S.Ct. at 729, 11 L.Ed.2d at 710. Actual malice requires a showing that the defendant actually knew that the defamatory statements were false or acted with reckless disregard of the truth. New York Times, 376 U.S. at 287, 84 S.Ct. at 730, 11 L.Ed.2d at 710-11. The Court has clarified the New York Times standard, stating: [A] court ruling on a motion for summary judgment must be guided by the New York Times clear and convincing evidentiary standard in determining whether a genuine issue of malice existsthat is, whether the evidence presented is such that a reasonable jury might find that actual malice had been shown with convincing clarity. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 257, 106 S.Ct. at 2514-15, 91 L.Ed.2d at 217; See Janklow v. Viking Press, 459 N.W.2d 415, 419 (S.D.1990) (citing Anderson and New York Times ). The trial court found the record void of proof that WEB made statements with knowledge or reckless disregard of falsity. We agree. Nelson failed to meet his burden of presenting clear and convincing evidence of malice; summary judgment is affirmed on this issue.