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Torts Keyed to Henderson
Ventura v. Kyle
Citation:
8 F. Supp 3d 1115 (D. Minn. 2014)Facts
The plaintiff, Jessie Ventura, is a well-known former wrestler, actor, and governor of Minnesota, who also served as a Navy SEAL during the Vietnam War. The defendant, Chris Kyle, was also a Navy SEAL and the author of autobiography American Sniper, the Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History. The book was released January 3, 2012 and reached number one on the New York Times’ bestseller list by the end of that month. It was picked up as a film in June 2012. A chapter in the book, entitled “Punching Out Scruff Face,” details an alleged altercation between the plaintiff and the defendant, which the defendant claims happened at a bar during a 2006 wake of the defendant’s comrade Mike Monsoor, who was killed in the line of duty. The book claims that the plaintiff stated that the defendant “deserved to lose a few,” referring to other comrades from the war. The plaintiff is never named in the chapter, but the defendant identified him by name in television, radio, and print interviews. The defendant produced one witness to the fight who confirmed his story. Other witnesses claim this altercation never happened.
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Topic Resources
Topic Outline
Defamation And Privacy TortsTopic Refresher Course
Defamation and Privacy Torts Essay Review