Court Opinion

ID: 9686204
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:33:43.788131+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:15.990882
License: Public Domain

BARHAM, Justice
(concurring in the decree).
It is my view that the Court of Appeal opinion was legally correct. The majority has committed error in relying on Rosenbloom v. Metromedia, Inc., 403 U.S. 29, 91 S.Ct. 1811, 29 L.Ed.2d 296, as being dis-positive of the case at hand. Because of the far-reaching effects which can flow from the Rosenbloom case, that holding should be very strictly limited in application. In our case the libel complained of was the flagrant, negligent reporting that this plaintiff was charged with a crime when plaintiff was in fact not involved in any criminal activity. Since crime is a matter of public interest, Rosenbloom might be extended to cover the situations where false information is distributed about one who is actually associated with the criminal activity. But the Rosenbloom holding cannot protect those who falsely report that someone in no way connected with criminal activity did commit a crime, for this would tear down the last vestige of protection from libel. I am of the opinion that proof of actual malice was unnecessary under the facts of the instant case.
I therefore respectfully concur in the decree only.