PublicF_j385.html

[Jim Choate <ravage@EINSTEIN.ssz.com>]

  Libel Plaintiffs - Public or Private Person Status
  
  Recent Examples
  
   PUBLIC OFFICIALS:
   
     * High School Teacher, Elstrom v. Independent Sch. District (Minn.
       1995)
     * Elementary School Principal, 20 MLR 1640 (VT.)
     * Former County Employee w/ Financial Responsiblity, 20 MLR 2159
       (Tenn.)
     * Police Officer, 21 MLR 1588 (Az.)
     * Federal Strike Force Attorney, 20 MLR 1649 (Az.)
     * TVA Official, 20 MLR 1873 (6th)
     * Athletic Director/Football Coach, 21 MLR 1746 (Tx.)
     * Special-Agent-In-Charge of President Ford's Secret Service Detail,
       21 MLR 1842 (D.D.C.)
     * Mississippi Public Defender, 22 MLR 1413 (DC S. Miss. 1994)
     * Former Deputy Sheriff, 22 MLR 2013 (Fla CirCt. 1994)
     * Commissioned National Guard Officers, 22 MLR 2046 (Ga. SuperCt
       1994)
     * Police Lieutenant, 22 MLR 2129 (NJ SupCt 1994)
     * President of State Troopers' association, 22 MLR (NY SupCt AppDiv.
       1993)
       
   NOT PUBLIC OFFICIALS:
   
   High School Principal, 20 MLR 2095 (GA.)
   
   Deputy Public Defender, 21 MLR 1624 (CA)
   
   Street & Traffic Supervisor, LeDoux v. Northstar Pub., 521 N.W. 2d
   (Mn. 1994) LIMITED PUBLIC FIGURES:
   
     * Charity seeking donations and organizer, 21 MLR 1449 (4th Cir.)
     * Attorney in private practice representing several school
       districts, 20 MLR 1992 (NJ)
     * Physician who sought media attention for practice and technique,
       20 MLR 1613 (NY)
     * Star Witness in Jim Garrison case who "sought limelight", 20 MLR
       2113 (La.)
     * Lawn Mower Repair Co., 22 MLR 1461 (NJ SuperCt. AppDiv. 1994)*
     * Police Officer/Subject of Book, 22 MLR 1385 (5th Cir. 1994)*
     * Paycologists/authors, 22 MLR 1852 (7th Cir. 1994)
     * Convicted Murderer, 22 MLR 2239 (DC Sind. 1994)*
     * Actress/Model, 22 MLR 2147 (DC E Wis. 1994) *
     * Appointed tax collector who never took office, 22 MLR 2157 (Ariz
       SuperCt 1994)
     * Brother who "voluntarily thrust himself" into controversy
       surrounding his brothers arrest, 22 MLR 1434 (Ca Ct App 1994)
       
   *Note: It is not clear that these individuals would be limited public
   figures in Oregon.
   
   NOT PUBLIC FIGURES:
   
     * Host of a loud party, 21 MLR 1378 (Pa.)
     * Woman at home where MLK had dinner night before shot who was
       alledged to have had extramarital affair with King, 21 MLR 1353
       (S.D.N.Y)
     * Person accused of of sexual misconduct, 22 MLR 2353 (4th Cir.
       1994)
       
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