By North Carolina Judicial Branch
Desmond v. News & Observer Publ'g Co.
Defamation; First Amendment; was the jury's finding of actual malice supported by sufficient evidence; did the trial court err by instructing the jury on the issue of falsity; did the trial court err by failing to instruct the jury that it must find one of the statutory aggravating factors under N.C.G.S. 1D-15 in order to award punitive damages.
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Summary
Defamation; First Amendment; was the jury's finding of actual malice supported by sufficient evidence; did the trial court err by instructing the jury on the issue of falsity; did the trial court err by failing to instruct the jury that it must find one of the statutory aggravating factors under N.C.G.S. 1D-15 in order to award punitive damages.