Turner v. KTRK Television, Inc.

joined by Justice ABBOTT and Justice GONZALES, and joined by Justice ENOCH, Justice BAKER, and Justice HANKINSON in all Parts except Part III, and joined by Justice HECHT and Justice OWEN in all Parts except Part II.

This public-figure libel case raises two issues. First, we must decide whether a public figure can sue for defamation based on a publication as a whole, rather than by specific false statements. Second, we must determine whether Wayne Dolcefino, a reporter for KTRK Television, acted with actual malice in broadcasting a report questioning whether state representative and then…