Hegwood v. Community First Holdings, Inc.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

LOUIS GUIROLA, JR., District Judge.

BEFORE THE COURT is [40] Defendant Community First Holdings, Inc., d/b/a Picayune Item’s Motion for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff Jerry Hegwood initiated this action for defamation and gross negligence against Community First for an article reporting his arrest for home repair fraud. Community First argues the article was either true or substantially true, is protected by the official report privilege, and Mississippi does not recognize gross negligence on the basis of printed, non-commercial…