Minnesota justices revive defamation claims over cop’s murder Thursday, February 27, 2020

Courthouse News Service

The Minnesota Supreme Court handed down a tempered victory Wednesday for a man suing two media outlets, ruling that a defamation case against a local newspaper and a statewide television news channel needed closer scrutiny from a jury.

Justice Margaret Chutich wrote that reporting the statements of law enforcement officials at a public press conference can fall under the fair report privilege, which allows news organizations to report on public proceedings, including any potentially defamatory statements made during those proceedings.

Jury instructions given in a Hennepin County District Court defamation case against media conglomerate Gannett did not take this into account, leading the Minnesota Supreme Court to order a new trial.

Read more at: https://www.courthousenews.com/minnesota-justices-revive-defamation-claims-over-cops-murder/

Read the court's opinion at: https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/larson-gannett.pdf