Lawrence Cranberg v. Consumers Union of U.S., Inc., Lawrence Cranberg v. Associated Press and Austin American Statesman

CLARK, Chief Judge:

Dr. Lawrence Cranberg filed these diversity actions for product disparagement and libel against Consumers Union of United States, Inc., (Consumers Union), the publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, and for libel against the Associated Press (AP), and Cox Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Austin American-Statesman (American-States man). These cases were consolidated for trial on the issue of liability alone. In a nonjury trial, the district court found all defendants not liable. We affirm the finding of the district court.

I

This law suit was sparked by an article that appeared in the…