Opinion ID: 2052142
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Privileged Communication by Public Official.

Text: Palmer asserts that the statements by Chief Armstrong to the media were protected as a privileged communication of a public official. As such, the broadcast of the allegedly defamatory statements may also be protected by this privilege. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 612 (1977). In Iowa, there are two types of privileges concerning statements made by public officials. See generally Note, 62 Iowa L.Rev. at 1071-72. Within the executive branch of government, an absolute defense against liability for libel attaches to all statements made by certain officials in the context of their participation in government. Id. This complete defense extends only to the highest state officials and does not apply to Chief Armstrong. Id. A qualified privilege may attach to certain statements made by a lower-ranking government official which are necessary to the performance of official duties. See Brown v. First Nat'l Bank, 193 N.W.2d 547, 552-53 (1972). This qualified privilege does not provide a complete defense, rather, the plaintiff is required to demonstrate actual malice on the part of the public official. Vinson, 360 N.W.2d at 116. This qualified privilege can be defeated if it is abused. Excessive publication of otherwise privileged material will act to remove the protection afforded by this privilege. See Brown, 193 N.W.2d at 552-53 (The qualified privilege by its very nature does not allow widespread or unrestricted communication.); see also Restatement (Second) of Torts § 604 (1977). It is for the court to decide as a matter of law whether the qualified privilege is available for a particular statement. Brown, 193 N.W.2d at 552. The court must consider the relation of the statements to the duties of the public official and the underlying purpose of the qualified privilege, see Restatement (Second) of Torts § 603 (1977). In determining whether the publication of the statement was excessive, the court must find a valid interest on the part of the general public which necessitated or justified the broadcast. Brown, 193 N.W.2d at 552. The challenged statements must be considered in the complete context of statements made by the public official. To apply this privilege to a media defendant, it will be necessary to view the challenged statements in the context of the entire broadcast. The record in this case will not allow us to make this determination. We do not know the precise statements made by Chief Armstrong to Palmer or the context in which these statements were later broadcast. It would be speculation on our part to determine whether the broadcast centered on an important civil rights issue or the plight of an individual fire fighter. A motion for summary judgment based on this privilege was properly denied.