Opinion ID: 796854
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: McVeigh and the Nichols brothers made practice bombs before Oklahoma City.

Text: 20 Plaintiff James Nichols first argues that the district court did not draw all reasonable inferences in his favor in concluding that the made practice bombs statement was substantially true. Nichols asserts that the district court failed to accept as true his under-oath statements asserting that he had never experimented with explosive devices and that the only explosive device he ever made was a small pill-vial bomb made out of black powder to loosen soybeans lodged in his grain bin. Plaintiff misconstrues the appropriate legal standard. 21 In libel cases such as the present one, it is the plaintiff's burden to prove falsity. Royal Palace Homes, Inc. v. Channel 7 of Detroit, Inc., 197 Mich.App. 48, 495 N.W.2d 392, 394 (1992) (In a case involving a private plaintiff, a media defendant, and a publication regarding an area of public concern, the constitution requires that the plaintiff bear the burden of proving falsity.). Additionally, [l]iability may not be imposed on a media defendant for facts about public affairs it publishes accurately and without material omissions. Id. Finally, M.C.L. § 600.2911(3) states: 22 Damages shall not be awarded in a libel action for the publication or broadcast of a fair and true report of matters of public record, a public and official proceeding, or of a governmental notice, announcement, written or recorded report or record generally available to the public, or act or action of a public body, or for a heading of the report which is a fair and true headnote of the report. 23 In its opinion, the district court reasoned that there was sufficient evidence in the public record to justify Moore's made practice bombs statement. The district court relied on an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint against Nichols which was provided by FBI Agent Patrick W. Wease. Wease stated: 24 On April 21, 1995, JAMES DOUGLAS NICHOLS was interviewed in Decker, Michigan. During this interview, JAMES NICHOLS stated that he is the brother of TERRY NICHOLS and is a friend of TIMOTHY MCVEIGH, and that both have visited and/or resided with him at his farm in Decker, Michigan, over the past several years. JAMES NICHOLS further stated that he has observed MCVEIGH and TERRY NICHOLS making and exploding `bottle bombs' at his residence in 1992, using brake fluid, gasoline, and diesel fuel. JAMES NICHOLS further stated that he participated with MCVEIGH and TERRY NICHOLS in making `bottle bombs' in 1992, and that in 1994, he JAMES NICHOLS, has made small explosive devices using prescription vials, pyrodex, blasting caps, and safety fuse. 25 The district court next noted that the amended criminal complaint also referenced several sources which described plaintiff making bombs. Additionally, the district court referred to an order of detention pending trial that was entered by the magistrate against plaintiff, which found that there was clear and convincing evidence that plaintiff had experimented with explosive materials. We agree with the district court's finding that there was sufficient evidence in the public record to support Moore's made practice bombs statement. Accordingly, based on this public record evidence, it was not error for the district court to conclude that Nichols's under-oath denials did not create a genuine issue of material fact. 26 Nichols also argues that the second half of the made practice bombs statement is defamatory because there was no evidence that any practice bombs were made in preparation for Oklahoma City. Moore's statement merely stated, however, that McVeigh and the Nichols brothers made practice bombs before Oklahoma City. (Emphasis added.) There is no dispute that any practice bombs made on Nichols's property were made before Oklahoma City. Accordingly, we agree with the district court's finding that the entire made practice bombs before Oklahoma City statement is substantially true. 27