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mahatmakanejeeves

(56,886 posts)
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 01:23 PM Apr 2019

Washington Post seeks dismissal of Sandmann lawsuit

Style
Washington Post seeks dismissal of Sandmann lawsuit

By Richard Leiby
April 9 at 10:44 PM

The Washington Post asked a federal court Tuesday to throw out a $250 million libel suit brought by a Kentucky high schooler who says the paper’s coverage of his and fellow students’ encounter with an American Indian activist at the Lincoln Memorial in January was false and defamatory.

The Post, in its motion to dismiss the suit, asserts its stories were accurate and did not impugn the reputation of Covington (Ky.) Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann, who entered a social media storm through video footage shot during a chaotic afternoon on the Mall when he stood face-to-face with drumbeating Indian elder Nathan Phillips.

The articles cited in the Sandmann suit, which was filed on his behalf by his parents, “may not have been flattering of the Covington Catholic students” who were caught up in disparate marches that day, “but they do not give rise to a defamation claim by Sandmann,” says the paper’s motion, filed in U.S. District Court in Covington. “Indeed, the Post’s overall coverage — including the articles that the Complaint fails to mention — was not only accurate; it was ultimately favorable to him.”
....

The Sandmann suit contends that The Post ignored videos that showed a more complete picture of the incident and “did not conduct a proper investigation before publishing its false and defamatory statements of and concerning Nicholas.” The suit says the paper acted with “knowledge of falsity or a reckless disregard for the truth” — the cornerstones of libel law. ... The paper takes a different view. “He and others who were present may well have been embarrassed by the attention — and hurt by the criticism — they received,” the motion says. “But Sandmann does not have a cause of action for libel against The Washington Post.”
....

Richard Leiby is a longtime editor and writer in The Post’s Style section. He joined The Post in 1991. His previous assignments have included Pakistan bureau chief and reporter, columnist and editor in Washington. He has reported from war zones, including Afghanistan and Iraq. He has written about four presidents, and he covered the Oscars twice. Follow https://twitter.com/richleiby
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Washington Post seeks dismissal of Sandmann lawsuit (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2019 OP
I hope wapo wins the dismissal. Our lawyers here might explain to us their chances. Karadeniz Apr 2019 #1
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