Homerin v. Mid-Illinois Newspapers

Plaintiff, Larry Homerin, former mayor of the City of Pekin, filed this libel action in the circuit court of Tazewell County seeking damages against defendant, Mid-Illinois Newspapers, doing business as Pekin Daily Times. The circuit court granted defendant’s motion to dismiss on the basis of the “modified innocent construction” rule. We affirm.

On April 13, 1990, defendant published a political cartoon depicting a grinning, white male character wearing glasses and a cowboy-type hat. The character was holding a bag with the initials of “FBOP” and five dollar signs ($) on the front of the bag.…