Hall v. Piedmont Publishing Co.

VAUGHN, Judge.

It was plaintiff’s burden to prove defamatory language on the part of defendants of or concerning plaintiff which was published to a third person causing injury to plaintiff’s reputation and if the plaintiff was a public official or public figure, plaintiff must prove actual malice on the part of defendants. We hold that a directed verdict was properly granted for defendants because plaintiff was a public official and plaintiff has not shown actual malice on the part of defendants in the publication of any words possibly defamatory to plaintiff.

In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan,…