Truth Is No Longer An Absolute Defense Against Libel?!?
from the um...-that's-not-good dept
Thanks to Jon, for pointing to us a very scary recent court ruling that appears to have done away with one of the most basic free speech rights: that truth is an absolute defense against libel. Apparently, a federal appeals court in Boston feels that there are exceptions to this rule, and that even the truth can be libelous. If that seems incredibly problematic, you're right.The case involved the office supply company Staples, who had fired an employee for abusing the company's travel and expense reporting system. After letting the guy, Alan S. Noonan, go, the company sent an email to many employees letting them know why Noonan was fired: "A thorough investigation determined that Alan was not in compliance with our [travel and expenses] policies." Noonan sued for libel, but Staples pointed out that since it was entirely accurate, there was no case.
However, the appeals court noted a century old Massachusetts law that suggests that truth is a defense against libel except if the plaintiff can show "actual malice" by the defendant in publishing the statement. Even though an earlier ruling had ruled that particular law was unconstitutional, the appeals court said that earlier ruling didn't apply. Instead, it said that since Staples had never named an employee fired for similar reasons, there was "malice" in sending out the email it sent. This may only apply in Massachusetts and it's highly likely to eventually be overturned (either in a rehearing by the entire appeals court, or eventually the Supreme Court), but in the meantime, it represents a very troubling change in the commonly accepted understanding that true statements can't be found as libelous.
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Filed Under: libel, malice, massachusetts, truth
Companies: staples
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Being a Jerk
Though in this case it does not even look like Staples was being a jerk, just letting other employees know what can get you fired as well as putting a stop to any rumors over why he was fired.
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Re:
Oh wait, that never happened.
Libel/slander is stating fallacies as fact. Harassment would fit this better.
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I love it!
I love it when you call 'em out!
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One case in Florida does come to mind, but I studied it so long ago that I do not recall the name, that involved a homeowner's association that sent out a letter to all homeowners specifically informing them of the names of homeowner's not complying with the association's rules. Obviously the ones so identified were not very happy to be held up to what they believed was public ridicule. The court agreed and dinged the association for sending the letter. If Massachussetts recognizes a similar tort, I have to wonder if it was also asserted as a claim. The court in the Massachussetts case only discussed a libel claim because that apparently was the only issue before the court. I have not seen the complaint, so I have no way of knowing what other legal claims were being asserted in the plaintiff's complaint.
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What is also scary...
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It'll be an interesting one to watch.
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I am guessing that since they could have simply sent out a reminder of the companies travel policies with naming this guy by name is where the judge implied some level of malice.
My guess is this guy has several lawsuits before judges. The breach of privacy when it comes to his employment records for starters.
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i see your point but
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Re: i see your point but
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Doesn't Staples have anyone that works in HR that knows what they are doing? Are they clueless?
According to the article, it sounds like more than our friend Alan was canned, so why call this guy out? Staples really screwed up in sending out this message, and even I would have advised leadership not to send this email out, and I am not in HR or in legal.
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Re:
A) Rumors over why he was fired.
B) Rumors of other people doing the same thing but no proof so they make an example out of the one guy they did catch.
The guy was breaking the rules. Now he faces the consequences.
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Muddy waters
Of course, in that case the suit would be for breach of contract rather than libel, but hey, stranger things will happen. Oh, yes, they will happen.
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Quaint laws
in Massachusetts, like... You are required to bring
your firearm to church and you're bound to shoot anyone
you see crossing into the state from Rhode Island.
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Re: Quaint laws
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Re: Re: Quaint laws
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w00t!
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fired due to your own actions? who cares, sue anyway
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I can guarantee that no qualified legal, HR or internal communications person saw that email before it went out. That was one of the dumbest things I have ever head a company doing.
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Quote
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Why the double standard?
So why is it when the company fires the guy for a good reason it's "private information", or harassment, or "publishing for the purpose of hurting someone", or just "the dumbest things" to simply reveal the barest facts of the situation.
This smells like a judge (and a bunch of armchair lawyers) who like to "side with the little guy" whether or not the little guy is wrong.
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Similarly, there is a defense, I believe, to say that even though something that spreading information that is negative and false is not actually libel in the case where the plaintiff has no reputation to defend.
To me, at the surface at least, this ruling does not seem so bad.
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Re:
It may be a problem, but that doesn't make it libel. You're confusing invasion of privacy with libel.
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If some judge, lawyer or any other guy would try that on me it would be their last act.
I am the only judge, jury and executioner about that.
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Likely to be overturned? Hardly.
I have serious doubts about this. This is an issue of Massachusetts state law, not federal law. I would be extremely surprised if the entire 1st Circuit or Supreme Court of the United States would be interested in hearing this case. This decision, for all intents and purposes, is final.
Your contention that this "actual malice" statute was ruled unconstitutional is only half right. Read your link: it was ruled unconstitutional regarding matters of public concern. The firing of a Staples employee and the subsequent providing of the name of said employee to all members of the company is hardly a matter of public concern. Thus, the "actual malice" statute still stands as constitutional and enforceable.
Lastly, this is a federal court making a ruling over a state law issue. Such a decision is not binding precedent on Massachusetts courts. No state court needs to follow the reasoning of this case if it does not want to do so.
In sum, this is hardly "the most dangerous libel decision in decades" as the Nieman guys would have anyone believe. This case is wholly divorced from the journalism arena, and it is not precedent that needs to be followed by anyone. Claims that this case is "very troubling" is completely reactionary and unthoughtful. Come on, Mike, you should be better than this.
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Re: Likely to be overturned? Hardly.
Nothing to see here, move along.
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What if the e-mail Staples had sent around stated that 'Our downsizing project has decided to let go John Smith, who was the least intelligent member of the team, had the highest error rate, and also had a number of personal hygiene issues, such as body odor and never washing his hands.'.
While all that could be testifiably true, I would agree that it's malicious and that John Smith would have a case.
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Re:
Maybe, but not one of libel.
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Truth Is No Defense
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Private act?
Also, since others had been fired for doing the same thing and people were still doing it, doesn't it make sense for the company to change its policy and let their employees know that people do get fired for this type of behavior?
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Re: Private act?
Also, since others had been fired for doing the same thing and people were still doing it, doesn't it make sense for the company to change its policy and let their employees know that people do get fired for this type of behavior?
Perhaps, but I don't see how accomplishing this goal requires calling out the specific employee by name.
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Truth as an absolute defense
What is an absolute defense, although the courts have not always said so, unfortunately, is the intent to be truthful, whether successful or not, even with malicious intent (in fact, maliciousness is not normally an issue).
So, if someone tells a half-truth, arguably the "truth" of what is actually covered, but deliberately giving a false impression (George W. Bush and "Darth" Cheney come to mind) and it is harmful, it is and should be actionable.
Though this is not libel, picture someone lighting a match and then yelling "fire!" in a crowded theater. Truthful, yes, actionable, both criminally and civilly, yes.
And, "truthfully" (sorry, I had to get that in there) I think I may sense malicious and perhaps misleading behavior in this case - and no, I don't think it is the end of our civilization or whatever.
Not a firm opinion, of course, I don't know enough about it for that.
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Malice can be the truth
Many people make mistakes.
That doesn't mean that posting those mistakes with the specific intention of hurting that person should be allowed.
It is a hard concept until you look at it from all sides.
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Truth no defense
The real problem in U.S. libel law is the opposite: the powerful media lobby has established the "Sullivan defence" which gives the media the right to lie about people in the name of "open public debate". So a reporter can call you a pedophile, based on some hearsay or maybe mistaken identity, and destroy your life an your career, but you have no recourse. He can plead that he was working to a tight deadline and didn't have a chance to check his sources, poor guy, but he wasn't being actually malicious, so it's OK.
There are a few sane heads in the legal community who have started to challenge Sullivan, pointing out that far from encouraging open debate it actually stifles it, because you can't have any confidence in what you read any more if the media can say what they like with impunity.
Bottom lines: the relationship between truth and freedom of speech isn't as simple as it seems, and it's nice to see the little guy win for a change.
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Truth can be libelous
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