Court Opinion

ID: 9628372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:18:03.445219+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:04.688308
License: Public Domain

NEWMAN, J., Dissenting.
Citing New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 at page 269 et seq. [11 L.Ed.2d 686, at p. 700 et seq., 84 S.Ct. 710, 95 A.L.R.2d 1412], the majority opinion concludes (ante p. 766): “[E]rroneous statements are inevitable in free debate and must be protected if we are to maintain free discussion. Unless a privilege to err absent malice is recognized, grave danger exists that requiring publishers to guarantee accuracy will result in unreasonable self-censorship.”
The California Constitution ensures that those words apply here. Article I, section 2 commands that “[e]very person may freely speak, write and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this right.”
Was there an abuse of that right here? The majority so conclude, arguing (1) that the facts show no public controversy, and (2) that plaintiffs had not attained “public figure status.” I disagree. I think it is clear that inner-city “closeout sales” in our era do inspire controversial concerns; and the “landmark” character of the building here merely helped to publicize those concerns and make them more newsworthy. Plaintiffs indeed did decide to thrust themselves into the vortex of that controversy, whether or not they already had become public figures.
Bird, C. J., concurred.
Respondents’ petition for a rehearing was denied January 17, 1980. Bird, C. J., was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.