Court Opinion

ID: 9772821
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 17:30:47.025477+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:48.641202
License: Public Domain

ELLIS, Justice,
dissenting.
Finding myself in disagreement with the other members of the court, I record my respectful dissent. I would overrule all points of error and affirm the summary judgment.
Although I harbor doubts about our holding that appellant Jacobs was not shown to be a public official, my principal disagree-' ment is with the notion that defamation occurred in the first place. The broadcast said there was an investigation, and there was indeed an investigation. Allegations of governmental wrongdoing are the daily diet of the press. If common sense does not suggest the garden variety nature of this story, then common sense must not read the papers.
The truly unfortunate aspect of reversing this case is that appellants have no hope of prevailing at trial, or even of getting to trial. We ought to end this litigation now rather than prolong it. I would affirm the trial court’s judgment.