Opinion ID: 1826657
Heading Depth: 7
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: A plaintiffs voluntary injection into the public controversy.

Text: A private individual, however, is not automatically transformed into a public figure just by becoming involved in or associated with a matter that attracts public attention. Wolston, 443 U.S. at 167, 99 S.Ct. 2701. In general, to be a limited purpose public figure, the plaintiff must voluntarily thrust himself into the vortex of the dispute. From the voluntary act is derived the notion of assumption of the risk and the consequent fairness in labelling the person a public figure. Marcane v. Penthouse Int'l Magazine for Men, 754 F.2d 1072, 1083 (3d Cir.1985). In Waldbaum, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia elaborated on a plaintiffs voluntary injection into a particular public controversy, noting that a person becomes a limited-purpose public figure if he attempts to have, or realistically can be expected to have, a major impact on the resolution of the public controversy. 627 F.2d at 1292. A person who voluntarily injects himself into a particular public controversy invites attention and comment. See Hunter v. Hartman, 545 N.W.2d 699 (Minn.Ct.App.1996)(holding that a team doctor for a college football program was a limited-purpose public figure because he voluntarily commented in a book and on national television about the public controversy over a former head coach's coaching style); Daubenmire v. Sommers, 156 Ohio App.3d 322, 805 N.E.2d 571 (2004)(holding that a coach voluntarily injected himself into a controversy by injecting religion into public schools); Chevalier v. Animal Rehab. Ctr., 839 F.Supp. 1224 (N.D.Tex.1993)(holding that a zoologist voluntarily injected himself into a controversy by appearing on television, giving interviews, and attempting to orchestrate a counter letter-writing campaign); James v. Gannett Co., 40 N.Y.2d 415, 353 N.E.2d 834, 386 N.Y.S.2d 871 (1976) (holding that a belly dancer voluntarily injected herself into controversy by taking affirmative steps in the press to attract attention); and Oaks v. City of Fairhope, 515 F.Supp. 1004 (S.D.Ala.1981)(holding that a librarian voluntarily injected herself into controversy by presenting her case in press). Additionally, a person can voluntarily inject himself into a public controversy by choosing a position that thrusts the person into the public controversy. In White v. Mobile Press Register, Inc., supra, this Court held that John C. White was a public figure because of his choice of career as a high level executive in an industry that is the subject of much public interest and concern. 514 So.2d at 904. The Court reasoned that his choice of career exhibited a voluntary decision to place himself in a situation where there was a likelihood of public controversy. Id. In Fiacco v. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, 484 F.Supp.2d 158 (D.Me.2007), the district court held that David Fiacco, the director of judicial affairs at the University of Maine, was a limited-purpose public figure. With regard to the voluntariness factor of the determination, the court held that Fiacco, in light of his position, voluntarily injected himself into the public controversy. The court determined that newspaper articles in the record established that a public controversy existed concerning the student-disciplinary process at the University of Maine. The court observed that as director of judicial affairs, Fiacco had the capacity to investigate allegations of student misconduct, adjudicate cases, conduct hearings himself and proscribe sanctions or refer a case to a committee for its action. 484 F.Supp.2d at 163. The court reasoned that [t]he nature of the position thrust Fiacco into the public controversy surrounding the student disciplinary process. 484 F.Supp.2d at 172. The court concluded that because Fiacco voluntarily accepted the position of director of judicial affairs and that position placed him at the center of a public controversy, he had injected himself into the public controversy. We conclude that Cottrell and Williams also injected themselves into the public controversy. When Williams accepted his coaching position in 1994 and Cottrell accepted his position in 1997, both men knew that The University was a member of the NCAA, that they were expected to comply with NCAA rules in a highly competitive environment, and that their actions would come under close scrutiny. Cottrell and Williams were both responsible for recruiting prospective student-athletes to sign scholarships to play football for The University. Both coaches were expected to abide by NCAA rules when recruiting prospective student-athletes. The nature of their positions at The University and the responsibilities of their positions thrust them into the public controversy concerning The University's compliance with NCAA rules. Like White and Fiacco, Cottrell and Williams made career choices that thrust them into positions involving much public interest and concern. The public controversy surrounding The University's compliance with NCAA rules began in 1995. Thus, by accepting their coaching positions, Cottrell and Williams show[ed] a voluntary decision to place [themselves] in a situation where there was a likelihood of public controversy. Therefore, because Cottrell and Williams voluntarily accepted positions with The University's football program under such circumstances, we conclude that they injected themselves into the public controversy. [12]