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9th Circuit Reinstates Evangelist's Defamation Claim Against ABC's 20/20

By Howard M. Friedman

In Price v. Stossel, (9th Cir., Aug. 24, 2010), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a California district court's early-stage dismissal under California's anti-SLAPP statute of a defamation claim by a prosperity gospel evangelist. Dr. Frederick Price brought an action against ABC television correspondent John Stossel and others involved in producing the show 20/20.  On the show, Stossel showed a clip of a sermon by Price in which Price describes a person with substanital wealth. Out of context the show suggested Price was talking about himself when, in fact, the quote was about a hypothetical wealthy person who was spiritally unfulfilled. The 9th Circuit held that for purposes of an anti-SLAPP motion, the court should determine whether the clip as broadcast materially altered the meaning conveyed by the speaker. The district court had erroneously relied on the conclusion that the statement's meaning, while distorted by ABC, was still substantially true. In remanding to the district court, the 9th Circuit said it was expressing no opinion on whether plaintiff could show the other required elements of a defamation claim. OC Weekly yesterday reported on the opinion.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on August 25, 2010 (boomark / email).