Denney v. Lawrence

Opinion

TIMLIN, J.—

Introduction

Roger Denney (Roger) and Roger’s wife, Marilyn Denney, (collectively plaintiffs) appeal from a stipulated judgment of dismissal entered against them and in favor of the Press Enterprise Company (Press-Enterprise) and E. M. Lawrence (Lawrence) (collectively defendants). 1 They contend that the trial court erred when it ruled, for purposes of the plaintiffs’ defamation action, that Roger was a “limited public figure” in relationship to the controversy surrounding his brother Rodney Denney’s (Rodney) arrest, conviction, and sentencing for the killing of Rodney’s…