JOHN F. FISCHER, Presiding Judge.
¶ 1 Plaintiff Bill Grogan appeals the order of the district court granting the motion for summary judgment filed by KOKH, LLC, a foreign limited liability company, Andrew Spino, Jaime Cerreta, and Matt Austin (KOKH defendants). Oral Argument was conducted in this case on March 5, 2010. The appeal has been assigned to the accelerated docket pursuant to Oklahoma Supreme Court Rule 1.36(b), 12 O.S. Supp.2008, ch. 15, app. 1, and the matter stands submitted without appellate briefing. We affirm in part, reverse in part and remand for further proceedings.
¶ 2 Grogan is a teacher and former coach at Macomb High School. He alleges that he was defamed and that his privacy was invaded by a television broadcast aired by KOKH Channel 25. The broadcast concerned an incident after a basketball game in which some students became upset when a referee required the removal of a cow bell a student had been ringing. According to Grogan, a student asked him if the referee had the authority to exclude the cow bell. Grogan explained that, during the game, the referee was in charge of the gym and had complete authority to take whatever measures he considered necessary. Grogan explained it was like the authority the Deputy Sheriff standing next to them had to shoot somebody if it was necessary to stop a crime.
¶ 3 Subsequently, other students standing near Grogan reported to school officials that Grogan had threatened to shoot, or have shot, students who did not leave after the game. Some parents became upset and complained to school officials. After investigating the matter, school officials concluded that there had been a misunderstanding, and that Grogan had not intended to threaten anyone. Apparently unsatisfied, some parents contacted KOKH. A KOKH reporter investigated the incident, and a story was broadcast on February 29, 2008. After the broadcast, school officials revisited the matter and decided to reprimand Grogan for unprofessional conduct and to not renew his coaching contract.
¶ 5 Rule 13 of the Rules for District Courts of Oklahoma, 12 O.S. Supp.2008, ch. 2, app., governs the procedure for summary judgment in the district court. We review the district court's grant of summary judgment de novo. Carmichael v. Beller, 1996 OK 48, ¶ 2, 914 P.2d 1051, 1053. On review, we examine the pleadings and evidentiary materials submitted by the parties to determine whether there exists a genuine issue of material fact. Id. This Court bears "an affirmative duty to test all evidentiary material tendered in summary process for its legal sufficiency to support the relief sought by the movant." Copeland v. The Lodge Enters., Inc., 2000 OK 36, ¶ 8, 4 P.3d 695, 699.
¶ 6 When considering a motion for summary judgment, the evidence and the inferences to be drawn from the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Hargrave v. Canadian Valley Elec. Co-op., Inc., 1990 OK 43, ¶ 14, 792 P.2d 50, 55. If the moving party "has not addressed all material facts, or if one or more such facts is not supported by" acceptable evidentiary material, summary judgment "is not proper." Spirgis v. Circle K Stores, Inc., 1987 OK CIV APP 45, ¶ 10, 743 P.2d 682, 685 (approved for publication by the Oklahoma Supreme Court). We will reverse an order granting summary judgment where it appears from the record that material facts concerning issues raised are conflicting or, if the material facts are undisputed, that reasonable persons in the exercise of fair and impartial judgment might reach different conclusions from those facts. Buck's Sporting Goods, Inc. of Tulsa v. First Nat'l Bank & Trust Co. of Tulsa, 1994 OK 14, ¶ 11, 868 P.2d 693, 697-98. "Only if the court should conclude that there is no material fact in dispute and the law favors the movant's claim or liability-defeating defense is the moving party entitled to summary judgment in its favor." Copeland, 2000 OK 36 at ¶ 8, 4 P.3d at 699. "Summary judgment is proper only when the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, admissions or other evidentiary materials" before the district court "establish that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Davis v. Leitner, 1989 OK 146, ¶ 9, 782 P.2d 924, 926; Northrip v. Montgomery Ward & Co., 1974 OK 142, ¶¶ 11-13, 529 P.2d 489, 494-95.
¶ 7 The KOKH defendants' motion for summary judgment and Grogan's response have narrowed the issues in this appeal. Grogan complains about only two aspects of the broadcast: (1) at the beginning of the broadcast a KOKH employee stated "a teacher is accused of threatening to shoot students"; and (2) the broadcast then showed Grogan's picture while a reporter stated "on the heels of terrorist threats at local schools and a shooting at NIU, some parents in Macomb are fuming. They say a teacher threatened their children and he should be punished like anyone else." On the basis of these statements, Grogan asserts two theories of recovery. First, he contends that he never threatened to shoot students and was defamed when KOKH employees stated during the broadcast that he had done so. Second, he contends that his privacy was invaded when he was falsely portrayed as a terrorist during the broadcast.
¶ 8 A plaintiff seeking to recover for defamation must prove "a false or malicious unprivileged publication by writing, printing, picture, or effigy ... which exposes [the plaintiff] to public hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy, or which tends to deprive him of
¶ 9 The First Amendment to the United States Constitution establishes a foundational principle of this democracy. "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."
McCormack v. Oklahoma Publ'g Co., 1980 OK 98, ¶ 17, 613 P.2d 737, 741.
¶ 10 The parties seem to be in essential agreement as to the law applied by the district court. Grogan is a public figure. See Johnston v. Corinthian Television Corp., 1978 OK 88, ¶ 5, 583 P.2d 1101, 1102-03. Consequently, the KOKH defendants are not liable for any false statement made during the broadcast unless Grogan can prove "actual malice" on the part of those defendants. See New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. at 279, 84 S.Ct. at 726.
Hart v. Blalock, 1997 OK 8, ¶ 9, 932 P.2d 1124, 1126 (citations omitted).
¶ 11 The material facts regarding Grogan's defamation theory of recovery are not in dispute. KOKH reported that parents had accused Grogan of threatening to shoot students. That statement is true. In fact, part of the broadcast replayed interviews with parents in which they made that claim. Whether Grogan did or did not threaten to shoot students is immaterial. Parents accused him of doing so and KOKH reported that fact. A defendant in a libel action may, "[a]s a defense thereto ... prove that the matter charged as defamatory was true...." 12 O.S.2001 § 1444.1. "The general rule is that the `truth of the communication is a complete defense to a civil action for libel.'" Oklahoma Publ'g Co. v. Kendall, 1923 OK 999, 96 Okla. 194, ¶ 35, 221 P. 762, 768 (quoting Ecuyer v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 101 Wn. 247, 172 P. 359 (1918)). See Martin v. Griffin Television, Inc., 1976 OK 13, ¶ 29, 549 P.2d 85, 93-94 (citing 12 O.S.1971 § 1444, now section 1444.1, as codifying "the affirmative defense of the truth" of the statement). Because the statement in the broadcast on
¶ 12 Grogan's invasion of privacy theory of recovery relies on the aspect of that tort which subjects one to liability for publicly placing another in a false light. With respect to the elements of this tort, Oklahoma has adopted the Restatement.
Colbert v. World Publ'g Co., 1987 OK 116, ¶¶ 15-16, 747 P.2d 286, 291-92.
¶ 13 The elements of the invasion of privacy tort are set forth in Restatement (Second) of Torts:
¶ 14 Grogan's invasion of privacy theory involves only a portion of the same broadcast on which his defamation theory is based. The broadcast began with the KOKH anchors introducing the story by reporting, (1) that parents claimed Grogan threatened to shoot students after the basketball game and the school was doing nothing about it, and (2) that the school claimed it was all a misunderstanding. The part of the broadcast on which Grogan relies for his false light tort followed this introduction and showed the KOKH reporter standing in front of the school gymnasium with Grogan's picture superimposed next to him, and under the graphic "Threat or Misunderstanding." The word "Threat" appears in bold, black letters; "Misunderstanding" appears underneath in white letters. The reporter states: "Well guys, on the heels of terrorist threats at local schools and a shooting at NIU, some parents in Macomb are fuming. They say a teacher threatened their children and he should be punished like anyone else." The story then proceeded to show interviews with two parents who reported that six students said Grogan threatened to shoot students, an attempt to interview Grogan who stated this was the result of an old grudge, and an interview with the school principal who stated he had concluded that whatever Grogan said was either misunderstood or misheard, and taken out of context. The broadcast also showed a copy of one student's incident report provided by a parent, and included commentary from the reporter relating the parents' desire to have Grogan suspended until a full investigation could be completed. Grogan argues that showing his picture while discussing "terrorist threats at local schools" and a recent shooting of students at Northern Illinois University unreasonably and
¶ 15 KOKH first argues that the reporter's lead-in statement cannot be reasonably interpreted as portraying Grogan as a terrorist or associated with terrorism. Whether the lead-in is capable of the meaning Grogan alleges is initially a question of law. Although this is a question of first impression in a false light invasion of privacy case, we reach this conclusion for two reasons. First, this is the approach required when the claim is based on the tort of outrage.
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46, cmt. h. In Munley v. ISC Financial House, Inc., 1978 OK 123, ¶ 10, 584 P.2d 1336, 1338, the Oklahoma Supreme Court adopted comment h to Restatement § 46 for the tort of outrage. And, as the Supreme Court noted, "the right of action for false light invasion of privacy is a product of the same societal need as the tort of outrage...." Colbert, 1987 OK 116 at ¶ 16, 747 P.2d at 292. More importantly, this is the approach required for review of actual malice issues at the summary judgment stage in defamation cases, see Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255-56, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2513-14, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986), and is essentially equivalent to the post-trial review of the evidence constitutionally required in defamation cases to determine whether actual malice has been proven as a matter of law. "The question whether the evidence in the record in a defamation case is sufficient to support a finding of actual malice is a question of law." Harte-Hanks Commc'ns, Inc. v. Connaughton, 491 U.S. 657, 685, 109 S.Ct. 2678, 2694, 105 L.Ed.2d 562 (1989). See Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., 497 U.S. 1, 17, 110 S.Ct. 2695, 2705, 111 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990). We find no less constitutional scrutiny required for false light invasion of privacy cases involving public figures.
¶ 16 As a matter of law, we conclude that the lead-in is capable of the meaning argued by Grogan. This story was about whether Grogan did or did not threaten to shoot students after the basketball game. It was not a story about terrorism, or any threats of terrorism at Macomb high school. And, the parents interviewed during the story did not claim that Grogan was a terrorist or that the school was doing nothing to protect their children from threats of terrorism. As characterized by KOKH in its Petition for Rehearing: "This lead-in is the only reference to terrorism or terrorists in the broadcast. On its face, the lead-in is contextual, referring to preceding events, not the event involving Grogan that was being reported." By injecting terrorism into this story, the broadcast relied on a "sound bite," that stated, "on the heels of terrorist threats," that was unrelated to the story and focused the attention of viewers on an incendiary and highly offensive subject. It is not unreasonable to conclude that the lead-in associated Grogan with that subject.
¶ 17 Having concluded that the broadcast could be interpreted as Grogan contends, we examine the record to determine whether Grogan has satisfied the elements of the tort, or has shown that facts material to those elements are in dispute. A false light plaintiff is required to prove three things: (1) that the plaintiff was portrayed in a false light, i.e., "the matter published concerning the plaintiff is not true," Rest. § 652E, cmt. a, (2) that the false portrayal would be highly offensive to a reasonable person such that the plaintiff would be "justified in the eyes of the community in feeling seriously offended and aggrieved by the publicity," Rest. § 652E, cmt. c, and (3) that the publisher "had knowledge of or acted in reckless disregard as to the falsity of the publicized matter and the false light in which the other would be placed." Rest. § 652E(b).
¶ 18 It is undisputed that Grogan is not a terrorist, and that portrayal of him as a terrorist would be highly offensive to a reasonable person. Therefore, to satisfy the first element of this tort, Grogan must show that the broadcast did portray him as a terrorist. Unlike the facts regarding Grogan's defamation theory, the material facts regarding this issue are controverted. KOKH relies on the deposition of its reporter, who testified that when he wrote the lead-in for the story he "in no way meant Mr. Grogan was a terrorist." Grogan produced the affidavits of three people who saw the broadcast and concluded that the KOKH broadcast implied that Grogan was a terrorist. Grogan also produced the affidavit of an administrator in another school district who refused to employ Grogan because he had been the subject of the "terrorist story." Finally, Grogan testified that some children in his school seemed apprehensive in his presence and asked if he was a terrorist. Whether or not this aspect of the broadcast portrayed Grogan as a terrorist, "reasonable persons might reach different inferences or conclusions...." Buck's Sporting Goods, Inc. of Tulsa v. First Nat'l Bank & Trust Co. of Tulsa, 1994 OK 14, ¶ 11, 868 P.2d 693, 697-98.
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. at 2513 (applying the clear-and-convincing standard to review of summary judgment motions in defamation cases when the factual dispute concerns actual malice). Therefore, we find that viewed in the light most favorable to Grogan, the KOKH broadcast portrayed him as a terrorist; that portrayal was false and would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, or that facts material to those findings are in dispute. Consequently, for summary judgment purposes, Grogan has satisfied the first two elements of the false light invasion of privacy tort.
¶ 19 The third element of the false light tort requires proof that KOKH knew or acted in reckless disregard as to the falsity of the publicized matter and the false light in which Grogan would be placed. Rest. § 652E(b). This requirement is virtually identical to the actual malice standard adopted in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. at 280, 84 S.Ct. at 726: "with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not." And, the New York Times Co. v. Sullivan actual malice standard is applicable to false light invasion of privacy cases. Time, Inc. v. Hill, 385 U.S. at 387-88, 87 S.Ct. at 542; Cantrell v. Forest City Publ'g Co., 419 U.S. 245, 95 S.Ct. 465, 42 L.Ed.2d 419 (1974). Likewise, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has adopted the actual malice test for false light invasion of privacy claims. Colbert, 1987 OK 116 at ¶ 16, 747 P.2d at 292.
¶ 21 KOKH focuses on the second aspect of the actual malice standard arguing that it did not know its broadcast would be interpreted as portraying Grogan in a false light. A similar issue is involved in a defamation claim with respect to whether the defendant knows not only that the publication is false but also that it will defame the plaintiff.
Rest. § 580A. However, there is no definitive guidance on this issue.
Rest. § 580A, cmt. d. We think it is clear that the actual malice standard determines the standard of fault. However, KOKH's argument misperceives the applicability of the second component of the actual malice test in this case. Again, analogizing to defamation law in the absence of direct authority:
Rest. § 580A, cmt. d. Therefore, assuming the publication is capable of the false portrayal the plaintiff alleges, proof of the defendant's knowledge or reckless disregard of the false light in which the plaintiff is portrayed is only required if the false portrayal is dependent on extrinsic facts that may or may not have been known to the defendant.
¶ 22 KOKH next argues that the actual malice test, "has been uniformly interpreted to mean that for the publisher to be liable for false light invasion of privacy, he must have intended the implication or recklessly disregarded that the implication is made." (Pet. for Reh'g at 4, emphasis in original.) Because it is undisputed that the reporter did not intend to portray Grogan as a terrorist, KOKH contends that there is no evidence in the record to establish this element of the false light tort. This argument takes two forms. First, it is asserted that unless the reporter intends to portray Grogan as a terrorist, Grogan cannot be portrayed in that light. Second, even if he did not intend to do so, unless the reporter was "actually aware" a viewer would understand the broadcast to imply that Grogan was a terrorist KOKH cannot be liable. Neither argument is persuasive.
¶ 23 As to the first, the only direct authority on this issue in false light cases is provided in the Restatement: the plaintiff must show that the "defendant knows that the plaintiff, as a reasonable [person], would be justified in the eyes of the community in feeling seriously offended and aggrieved by the publicity." § 652E, cmt. c. As previously discussed, and assuming that the broadcast portrayed Grogan as a terrorist, that is not an issue based on the record in this case, nor is it the focus of KOKH's argument. Citing defamation-by-implication cases from the federal courts of appeal and R. Sack on Defamation: Libel, Slander and Related Problems, § 5.51, at 5-77 (4th ed. 2010), KOKH contends that a false portrayal "perceived in a statement but not intended by the speaker cannot be actionable in public official or public figure cases." We find that is not a correct statement of the applicable law.
¶ 25 Further, KOKH's argument for a standard that would confine record review to "only what the evidence shows was in the mind of the reporter" and limit liability to only those cases in which the reporter "was actually aware" how the broadcast would be interpreted is too narrow. We have determined as a matter of law that the broadcast could be viewed as Grogan contends. The interpretation of viewers in this record supports Grogan's claim. KOKH may produce evidence from other viewers that will contradict that interpretation. Ultimately whether the broadcast did or did not portray Grogan as a terrorist is for the jury to determine. It is one thing to argue that KOKH is not liable because its broadcast did not portray Grogan as a terrorist. It is quite another to argue that KOKH is not liable because, although its broadcast did portray Grogan as a terrorist and the evidence in the record supports that finding, its reporter testified that false portrayal was not "in his mind" at the time of the broadcast. This is not, as KOKH argues, finding liability because it should have foreseen that the broadcast would portray Grogan as a terrorist. "Although failure to investigate will not alone support a finding of actual malice, the purposeful avoidance of the truth is in a different category." Connaughton, 491 U.S. at 692, 109 S.Ct. at 2698 (citing St. Amant, 390 U.S. at 731, 88 S.Ct. at 1326). It is this category with which the jury will be concerned in the trial of this case.
¶ 26 Finally, in both respects, KOKH's intent argument would extend a privilege to the publisher's state of mind and place the outcome of the case exclusively in the hands of the defendant. The federal circuit court cases cited by KOKH in support of this proposition are not persuasive and they are not the only federal authority relevant to this issue. "Although actual malice is subjective, a `court typically will infer actual malice from objective facts.'" Celle v. Filipino Reporter Enters. Inc., 209 F.3d 163, 183 (2d Cir.2000) (citing Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union of the United States, Inc., 692 F.2d 189, 196 (1st Cir.1982); Dalbec v. Gentleman's Companion, Inc., 828 F.2d 921, 927 (2d Cir.1987) ("`Malice may be proved inferentially because it is a matter of the defendant's subjective mental state, revolves around facts usually within the defendant's knowledge and control, and is rarely admitted.' ")). Additionally, "a publisher cannot feign ignorance or profess good faith when there are clear indications present which bring into question the truth or falsity of defamatory statements." See Donaldson, 57 A.L.R.4th 22, § 37[b] (citing Fitzgerald v. Penthouse Int'l, Ltd., 691 F.2d 666, 670 (4th Cir.1982)). More importantly, KOKH's argument is contrary to Oklahoma law. The reporter's lack of intent or absence of recklessness may be relevant to determining whether the broadcast was published with actual malice. However, "evidence to impeach the publisher's good faith" is also relevant. See Herbert v. Oklahoma Christian Coalition, 1999 OK 90, ¶ 21, 992 P.2d 322, 329. Therefore, we find that KOKH's intent is not determinative in our review of the order granting summary judgment.
¶ 28 KOKH also argues that an isolated portion of the broadcast cannot be considered; the broadcast must be viewed in its entirety to determine whether Grogan was falsely portrayed as a terrorist. First, this is not a case in which we must determine the meaning of an ambiguous word or phrase within a particular sentence. The reference to "terrorism" and "threats" in the reporter's lead-in is clear and unmistakable. What is in dispute is whether those clear and unambiguous references portrayed Grogan as a terrorist. Masson v. New Yorker Magazine, Inc., on which KOKH relies, notes that "[t]he common law of libel takes but one approach to the question of falsity," that "overlooks minor inaccuracies and concentrates [on] substantial truth." 501 U.S. 496, 516, 111 S.Ct. 2419, 2432-33, 115 L.Ed.2d 447 (1991). Masson and the context-of-the-entire-broadcast cases are based on the fact that some inaccuracy is "inevitable in free debate" and the recognition that imposing strict liability for defamation on broadcasters would have an undesirable chilling effect on speech related to public figures. See Gertz, 418 U.S. at 340, 94 S.Ct. at 3007. KOKH does not argue that any implication Grogan was a terrorist resulted from "minor inaccuracies." And, KOKH concedes that: "A demonstrably true statement in a broadcast may not save a defendant from liability for a substantially false or offensive statement or implication clearly made in another part of the broadcast." (Pet. for Reh'g at 12.) Nonetheless, KOKH argues that if the reference to "terrorist threats" while Grogan's picture was displayed falsely portrayed him as a terrorist, the context of the broadcast dispelled that portrayal.
¶ 29 Grogan filed a motion to retain this appeal in the Supreme Court, questioning whether the "actual malice" standard applied to defamation claims is appropriate for invasion of privacy claims.
¶ 30 First, the "actual malice" test established by New York Times Co. v. Sullivan addresses policy concerns essential to the operation of the government. The First Amendment "was fashioned to assure unfettered interchange of ideas for the bringing about of political and social changes desired by the people." Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476, 484, 77 S.Ct. 1304, 1308, 1 L.Ed.2d 1498 (1957).
¶ 31 Second, defamation and invasion of privacy are distinct torts with separate origins. "[T]he right of action for false light invasion of privacy is a product of the same societal need as the tort of outrage or intentional infliction of emotional distress." Id. at ¶ 16, 747 P.2d at 292. "[T]he tort action for defamation has existed to redress injury to the plaintiff's reputation by a statement that is defamatory and false." Masson v. New Yorker Magazine, Inc., 501 U.S. at 516, 111 S.Ct. at 2432 (citing Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., 497 U.S. 1, 11, 110 S.Ct. 2695, 2702, 111 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990)). And, despite the protection of speech afforded by the First Amendment, the United States Supreme Court has recognized that "the compensation of individuals for the harm inflicted on them by defamatory falsehood" is a "legitimate state interest underlying the law of libel." Gertz, 418 U.S. at 341, 94 S.Ct. at 3008. Not only are the origins of these torts different, but also common law restrictions on libel suits are more severe than the restrictions applicable to false light privacy suits. Colbert, 1987 OK 116 at ¶ 14, 747 P.2d at 291.
¶ 32 These separate origins result in three basic differences between the two torts: (1) a false light claim is not limited to matters actually defamatory, either on their face or in context, but may be brought for any false portrayal that is highly offensive to a reasonable person; (2) although any publication gives rise to a defamation action, the false light claim requires publication to a substantial portion of the general public; (3) the essence of a defamation action is injury to reputation, but a false light plaintiff may recover for subjective suffering, embarrassment, and outrage in the absence of damage to reputation. 62A Am.Jur.2d Privacy § 128 (2005).
¶ 33 Despite these differences, as the Oklahoma Supreme Court made clear in Colbert, the standard applicable to false light claims "is the equivalent of the Hill teaching that actual malice must be proven with convincing clarity by showing that the defendant had a high degree of awareness of probable falsity or in fact entertained serious doubts as to the truth of the publication." Colbert, 1987 OK 116 at ¶ 15, 747 P.2d at 291. Therefore, a plaintiff cannot avoid the general protection of speech afforded by the United
¶ 34 Nonetheless, there are exceptions to the protection of speech established by the First Amendment. Vulgar, offensive and shocking language is "not entitled to constitutional protection under all circumstances," FCC v. Pacifica Found., 438 U.S. 726, 747, 98 S.Ct. 3026, 3039, 57 L.Ed.2d 1073 (1978), and "fighting words" that inflict injury or incite an immediate breach of peace are punishable. Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568, 572, 62 S.Ct. 766, 769, 86 L.Ed. 1031 (1942). "[N]ot all speech is of equal First Amendment importance." Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. v. Greenmoss Builders, Inc., 472 U.S. 749, 758, 105 S.Ct. 2939, 2945, 86 L.Ed.2d 593 (1985). The "constitutional guarantees [of free speech] can tolerate sanctions against calculated falsehood without significant impairment of their essential function." Time, Inc. v. Hill, 385 U.S. at 389, 87 S.Ct. at 543.
¶ 35 Further, there are obvious areas in which rote application of the post New York Times, Inc. v. Sullivan cases in the false light invasion of privacy context is not appropriate. For example, cases discussing what is defamatory may not be helpful in determining what is "highly offensive to a reasonable person." "It is not ... necessary to the action for invasion of privacy that the plaintiff be defamed." Rest. § 652E, cmt. b. If "blind application" of the New York Times standard is not warranted, the issue raised by KOKH is the extent to which the context-of-the-broadcast cases are applicable in the false light invasion of privacy context. Viewed in the light most favorable to Grogan, as we are required to do on summary judgment, we have a false and offensive implication in the reporter's lead-in to the story that is followed by demonstrably true but unrelated statements. As the Restatement notes with respect to defamation claims:
Rest. § 563, cmt. d. That observation is equally applicable to broadcast stories. Therefore, we do not find that as a matter of law, unrelated but true statements in the rest of the broadcast provide a sufficient context to exonerate KOKH from liability for falsely portraying Grogan as a terrorist in the lead-in, if the jury finds that it did so.
¶ 36 The actual malice standard is a "daunting one." Howard v. Antilla, 294 F.3d 244, 252 (1st Cir.2002). And, it must be proven with "convincing clarity." Colbert, 1987 OK 116 at ¶ 15, 747 P.2d at 291. Accord Gertz, 418 U.S. at 342, 94 S.Ct. at 3008. Nonetheless, were we to adopt the rule requested by KOKH, a mere footnote stating the false implication was not intended would
¶ 37 Where, as a matter of law, a portion of the broadcast could be reasonably interpreted as conveying the false meaning asserted by the plaintiff, we find unpersuasive the argument for application of the context-of-the-entire-broadcast cases to bar a false light invasion of privacy claim. Because Time, Inc. and Colbert require proof of actual malice in false light invasion of privacy cases, the freedom to speak ensured by the First Amendment is protected even though the publisher can point to other parts of the broadcast that are true. It is for the jury to determine whether the broadcast falsely portrayed the plaintiff, and, if so, from all the evidence presented whether the broadcaster acted with actual malice.
¶ 38 Finally, KOKH argues that even if its broadcast did portray Grogan as a terrorist, it is not liable because the broadcast was privileged. In support of this argument, KOKH cites Crittendon v. Combined Commc'ns Corp., 1985 OK 111, ¶¶ 15-17, 714 P.2d 1026, 1029-30. Crittendon applied the substantial accuracy test of the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 611, cmt. f, regarding defamation claims, to determine whether a news report was a "fair and true report" of a judicial proceeding, and therefore privileged from an action for libel pursuant to 12 O.S. 2001 § 1443.1.
¶ 39 Similar to this argument, KOKH argues that its broadcast was protected by the common law fair comment privilege.
Magnusson v. New York Times Co. d/b/a KFOR, 2004 OK 53, ¶ 10, 98 P.3d 1070, 1075 (holding that the common law fair comment privilege was a defense available to suits for defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress). The fair comment defense protects statements that (1) involve matters of public concern, (2) are based on true or privileged facts, (3) represent the opinion of the speaker, and (4) are not made for the sole purpose of causing harm. Id. at ¶ 11, 98 P.3d at 1075. Clearly, that part of the KOKH broadcast containing interviews with parents who stated that Grogan threatened to shoot children is protected by this privilege. But Grogan's invasion of privacy theory of recovery is not based on that part of the broadcast. Grogan complains about the part of the broadcast in which he alleges KOKH's reporter implied that Grogan was a terrorist. We find that the common law fair comment privilege does not protect this part of the broadcast for two reasons. First, the reporter speaking about terrorism did not hold the opinion that Grogan was a terrorist. Second, even if he did, that belief would not constitute an "opinion" for purposes of the fair comment privilege because whether Grogan is, or is not, a terrorist can be established by the relevant facts. A statement about an individual that can be proven true or false is not an opinion. Magnusson, 2004 OK 53 at ¶ 13, 98 P.3d at 1076. Further, if "the facts upon which [the speaker] bases his opinion ... are either incorrect or incomplete, or if [the] assessment of them is erroneous, the statement may still imply a false assertion of fact," and "couching such statements in terms of opinion does not dispel these implications[.]" Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., 497 U.S. at 18-19, 110 S.Ct. at 2706. KOKH has failed to establish the existence of any privilege that would entitle it to summary judgment on Grogan's false light invasion of privacy claim.
¶ 40 The KOKH broadcast that is the subject of this appeal contained two statements that form the bases for Grogan's claims. First, KOKH reported that parents accused Grogan of threatening to shoot students. Because that statement of accusation is true, the district court correctly granted the KOKH defendants' motion for summary judgment as to Grogan's defamation theory of recovery. With respect to Grogan's false light invasion of privacy theory of recovery, the material facts remain in dispute. The summary adjudication in that respect is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion.
¶ 41
WISEMAN, C.J., and BARNES, J., concur.