Collins v. Cox Enterprises, Inc.

Johnson, Judge.

Cox Enterprises, Inc., published a newspaper editorial endorsing John Frank Collins’ opponent in an election for the Georgia Public Service Commission. The editorial stated in part: “Once, his name was John Collins. But in a deeply cynical and revealing act, he changed it to John Frank Collins during the gubernatorial term of Joe Frank Harris, believing that if he couldn’t be elected on his merits, maybe he could fool voters into putting him into power.” Based on this quoted portion of the editorial, Collins sued Cox for libel. Cox moved for judgment on the pleadings. The trial…