Hearst Corp. v. Skeen

In this interlocutory appeal we consider whether it was error to deny the media defendants’ motion for summary judgment against the plaintiffs’ libel claim. Because the plaintiffs, who were public figures, failed to raise a fact issue on actual malice, we conclude that the media defendants were entitled to summary judgment.

On June 11, 2000, The Hearst Corporation published “Justice Under Fire” in The Houston Chronicle. Written by Evan Moore, the article contained pointed criticisms of the Smith County criminal justice system and included three companion articles examining specific cases. With…