Thomson Newspaper Publishing, Inc. v. Coody

Andree Layton Roaf, Justice.

This appeal involves a libel action filed by appellee Dan Coody against the appellants, Thomson Newspaper Publishing, Inc., d/b/a Northwest Arkansas Times (Times), and S. D. “Dave” Stokes, individually and as publisher of the Times. A jury awarded Dan Coody $275,000.00 in compensatory and punitive damages. Appellants raise four points for our review: (1) appellee failed to submit any evidence of libel upon which the jury could base a verdict for appellee; (2) appellee failed to prove actual malice on the part of the appellants by clear and convincing evidence; (3)…