NY District Judge Says He'll Dismiss Sarah Palin Libel Lawsuit
Summary from the AllSides News Team
On Monday, a New York district judge said he will dismiss former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) libel lawsuit against the New York Times (Lean Left bias).
Palin and her legal team are suing the Times and its former editorial page editor James Bennet for allegedly using "actual malice" in publishing an editorial that falsely linked her to a 2011 mass shooting in Arizona. The editorial was later corrected, but it did not mention Palin's name.
Proving malice is difficult in defamation cases against public figures. It's also unusual for a judge to make a ruling while a grand jury is still deliberating. This ruling will mean that an appeals court will have both the judge's decision and the grand jury's decision to consider, as the case will likely be appealed.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Judge says he'll dismiss Palin's landmark libel lawsuit against NYT
The New York Times was handed a small victory on Monday, after a New York district judge said he would dismiss a landmark defamation case brought against it by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Driving the news: In an unusual decision ahead of the jury vote Monday, Judge Jed S. Rakoff said Palin failed to prove the New York Times acted with "actual malice," per NPR's David Folkenflik.
Be smart: In dismissing the case, the judge opens up the opportunity for Palin's legal team to appeal the jury's decision in an appellate court.
The...
From the Right
NY Times Wins Motion to Potentially Override Any Jury Verdict in Palin Defamation Suit
Judge Jed Rakoff struck a blow to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times on Feb. 14 when he ruled in favor of a motion by the defense that essentially nullifies a jury’s verdict in her favor should it come back with one.
Officially known as Federal Rule of Civil Procedure No. 50, or the “Rule 50 Motion,” the motion states that the plaintiff has to have sufficient evidence for every element it needs to prove.
In this case, the element in question is “actual malice.” Proving this...
From the Left
Judge to dismiss Sarah Palin defamation case against The New York Times 
A New York City federal judge said Monday he would dismiss Sarah Palin's claim that she was defamed by The New York Times when it incorrectly linked her to a 2011 mass shooting in Arizona that nearly killed former Rep. Gabby Giffords.
Palin, who was the governor of Alaska when she rocketed to fame in 2008 after Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the GOP presidential nominee, picked her as his running mate, claimed her reputation had been damaged by the Times editorial.
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan disagreed and...
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