Haueter v. Cowles Publishing Co.

Spokane Passport, Inc., and its president, Roy Haueter (collectively referred to as Haueter), appeal from a summary judgment dismissing their libel claims against Cowles Publishing Company and reporter Theresa Goffredo (collectively referred to as the publisher). They contend (1) the court applied the wrong standard of proof, "convincing clarity"; (2) the articles were demonstrably false; (3) statements by the Better Business Bureau are not protected statements of opinion; (4) there are genuine issues of material fact as to the issue of whether the publisher lost its privilege to report…