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Torts Keyed to Prosser
Cantrell v. Forrest City Publishing Comany
Citation:
419 U.S. 245, 95 S.Ct. 465, 42 L.Ed.2d 419Facts
Melvin Cantrell died after an Ohio bridge collapsed. The Plain Dealer newspaper wrote a story on the funeral of Melvin Cantrell and how his death impacted his family. Five months later, the writer and photographer (co-defendants) from the newspaper visited the Cantrell home again to write and photograph a follow-up feature. The article was published and contained numerous falsehoods, including an assertion that Margaret Cantrell refused to talk about the family. In reality, Margaret Cantrell was not home during the visit. The article also emphasized the Cantrells’ abject poverty. Margaret Cantrell and four of her minor children (plaintiffs) brought suit against Forest City Publishing Company (co-defendant), the publisher of The Plain Dealer, as well as the writer and photographer. The Cantrell family alleged the article made them the objects of pity and ridicule.
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Topic Resources
Topic Outline
Defamation And Privacy TortsTopic Refresher Course
Defamation and Privacy Torts Essay Review