KESSLER, J.
¶ 1 Angela Terry appeals multiple orders of the circuit court, all stemming from her defamation action against the Journal Broadcast Corporation, its respective insurers, and multiple other parties. We affirm.
¶ 2 Angela Terry is a Milwaukee school bus driver who ran a part-time wedding video service known as "Angie's Wedding Videos." On February 2, 2006, a Milwaukee-area news station, WTMJ-4, aired a broadcast focusing on a couple that had not received their video seven months after the wedding. The couple, Jana and Chad Uebele, contacted the news station and the two were interviewed by the station's investigative reporter, John Mercure.
¶ 3 The Uebeles and another couple, Robin and Ryan Sliga, each paid Terry $1000 in advance of their weddings, but neither couple received their videos within the ten to twelve weeks estimated in Terry's video brochure. The Uebeles received their video approximately seven months after their wedding; the Sligas received their video over a year after their wedding. The news station's broadcast reported the couples' struggles to obtain their videos. We described portions of the broadcast in our previous decision addressing Terry's claims against the Uebeles:
See Terry v. Uebele, No. 2009AP2381, unpublished slip op. ¶¶ 4-6, 2011 WL 148922 (WI App. Jan. 19, 2011) (quotation marks added; second set of ellipses and brackets in Terry).
¶ 4 The confrontation we addressed in our previous opinion involved portions of Mercure's at-home interview with Terry:
¶ 5 Terry's son, who was present during the interview, forcibly attempted to remove Mercure from Terry's home, and Terry put her hand in front of the camera lens. The video portion of this confrontation was broadcast unedited from Terry's throat-cutting gesture until she closed the door on Mercure.
¶ 6 The February 2, 2006 broadcast also featured an interview with Elmer Prenzlow, a consumer affairs specialist with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Based on the Uebeles' complaint to his state office, Prenzlow told viewers he thought the Uebeles had been "ripped off" by Terry:
Prenzlow testified in his deposition that he told Mercure that Terry's legal violation could potentially be civil or criminal.
¶ 7 Following the February 2, 2006 broadcast, Prenzlow received complaints from other customers of Angie's Wedding Videos and required Terry to identify for him all of the customers still waiting for her to complete their wedding videos. Later that month, Terry identified twelve such couples, not counting the Uebeles or Sligas. Prenzlow required Terry to periodically report to him on her progress in completing those videos and kept the State's file on her business open for another year "to make sure that there were no additional violations or complaints." Prenzlow testified he thought the complaints against Terry "could have been referred" for prosecution, but he did not do so because she cooperated with his office.
¶ 8 In March 2006, WTMJ-4 aired a follow-up interview between Mercure and the Uebeles, as well as between Mercure and the Sligas. In that broadcast, Mercure addressed the resolutions of the customer complaints by stating: "The I-team can expose a problem and consumer protection can take the legal action necessary to get a solution. In this case, they certainly did that."
¶ 9 On January 25, 2008, Terry filed the action underlying this appeal, based on the news stories broadcast in February and March 2006, and the corresponding internet version of those reports. In a Second Amended Complaint, Terry filed numerous
(Some formatting altered; some capitalization omitted; some punctuation altered.)
¶ 10 The circuit court granted the Uebeles' motion for summary judgment — a ruling we affirmed.
¶ 11 Terry now appeals multiple decisions of the circuit court. First, Terry appeals the circuit court's summary judgment order in favor of the media defendants dismissing all of her claims. She also appeals the circuit court's denial of: (1) summary judgment on her libel per se claim; (2) her motion to amend the pleadings; (3) her motion to compel the deposition of Kritzer; and (4) her independent causes of action in negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress. We address each argument in turn. Additional facts are included as relevant to the discussion.
¶ 12 Terry argues that the circuit court erroneously granted summary judgment
¶ 13 "Summary judgment is appropriate to determine whether there are any disputed factual issues for trial and to avoid trials where there is nothing to try." Bay View Packing Co. v. Taff, 198 Wis.2d 653, 672, 543 N.W.2d 522 (Ct.App.1995) (quotation marks and citation omitted). In matters concerning the law of defamation, we have explained the summary judgment standard as follows:
Id., at 672-73, 543 N.W.2d 522 (internal citations, quoted sources and footnote omitted; brackets in Bay View Packing).
¶ 14 "The elements of a defamatory communication are: (1) a false statement, (2) communicated by speech, conduct, or in writing to a person other than the person defamed, and (3) the communication is unprivileged and is defamatory, that is, tends to harm one's reputation so as to lower him or her in the estimation of the community or to deter third persons from associating or dealing with him or her." Mach v. Allison, 2003 WI App 11, ¶ 12, 259 Wis.2d 686, 656 N.W.2d 766 (Ct. App.2002). "The `statement' that is the subject of a defamation action need not be a direct affirmation, but may also be an implication." Id. "In a defamation action brought by a private figure against a media defendant, the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the speech at issue is false; this requirement is imposed in order to avoid the chilling effect that would be `antithetical to the First Amendment's protection of true speech on matters of public concern.'" Id., ¶ 13 (citation omitted). "A defamatory communication may consist of a statement in the form of an opinion, but a statement of this nature is actionable only if it implies the allegation of undisclosed defamatory facts as the basis for the opinion." RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 566 (emphasis added). "The principle of `fair comment' afford[s] legal immunity for the honest expression of opinion on matters of legitimate public interest when based upon a true or privileged statement
¶ 15 Terry argues that genuine issues of material fact exist as to two statements: (1) an allegation made by Mercure during the February 2, 2006 broadcast that Terry "was facing criminal charges"; and (2) a statement by Mercure during the same broadcast that the Uebeles "were told [that] their video would be done in 10 weeks." Neither statement presents a genuine issue of material fact.
¶ 16 First, the statement that Terry "was facing criminal charges" was substantially true. See Lathan v. Journal Co., 30 Wis.2d 146, 158, 140 N.W.2d 417 (1966) (It is not "necessary that the article or statement in question be true in every particular. All that is required is that the statement be substantially true."). Prenzlow, a consumer affairs specialist employed by the State of Wisconsin, testified that Terry's conduct could potentially constitute a violation of Wisconsin consumer and criminal laws. Prenzlow stated that he did not refer Terry to the District Attorney's Office because after the February 2, 2006 broadcast, she cooperated with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the issues between Terry and her customers were successfully mediated. We disagree with Terry that the term "facing criminal charges" necessarily implied that she was actually criminally charged. None of the broadcasts or corresponding internet stories stated that Terry was actually charged with a crime. In the context of the broadcast and Prenzlow's statements, it is clear that "facing criminal charges" meant that Terry could potentially be charged for the failure to provide paying couples with their wedding videos, which was true. There is no issue of material fact as to this statement.
¶ 17 Terry also contends that Mercure's statement indicating that the Uebeles "were told [that] their video would be done in 10 weeks" presents an issue of material fact because "the undisputed fact is that Terry represented to her customers and in her wedding brochure" that the ten to twelve week completion time frame was an estimate. We have already addressed this issue in Terry, No. 2009AP2381, unpublished slip op. ¶ 18, when we stated:
Therefore, there is no issue of material fact regarding Mercure's statement as to the timeframe of the Uebeles' video completion.
¶ 18 Terry also argues that numerous statements made either during the February 2, 2006 broadcast, the promotional advertisement for the broadcast, the March 9, 2006 broadcast, or on the news station's website, were defamatory. We disagree.
¶ 19 A statement is defamatory if it "`tends to harm one's reputation so as to lower him or her in the estimation of the community or to deter third persons from associating or dealing with him or her.'" Torgerson v. Journal/Sentinel, Inc., 210 Wis.2d 524, 534, 563 N.W.2d 472 (1997) (citation omitted). "A person who claims that his or her reputation has been unlawfully
¶ 20 Terry points to a long list of allegedly defamatory statements and images which she contends led to the false implications that she was engaged in fraudulent business practices and that she was a "freakish and dangerous person that the public should avoid." (Capitalization omitted.) We address both allegations.
¶ 21 Terry argues that the following statements, taken either from the broadcasts, the promotional advertisement, or the corresponding website, implied that she engaged in fraudulent business practices:
¶ 22 We have already addressed the statement that Terry "was
¶ 23 A majority of the statements Terry complains about use some variation of the terms "rob," "ripped off," "cheat," "victim" or "scam." The media defendants maintain that these statements are opinions based in fact, and are therefore not actionable. We agree that all of these terms, in the context in which they were used, convey statements of opinion that are not defamatory. See Milkovich, 497 U.S. at 13, 110 S.Ct. 2695 ("The principle of `fair comment' afford[s] legal immunity for the honest expression of opinion on matters of legitimate public interest when based upon a true or privileged statement of fact.") (one set of quotation marks and citation omitted). Although opinions are not completely exempt from the realm of defamatory communications, an actionable opinion must be blended with an expression of fact and must imply "`the assertion of undisclosed defamatory facts as a basis of the opinion.'" Milsap v. Journal/Sentinel, Inc., 100 F.3d 1265, 1268 (7th Cir.1996) (citation omitted). The use of these terms all stemmed from the fundamental fact that Terry did not deliver a product within the time the purchasers believed it was promised despite paying for it. That Terry did not give the Uebeles their video until seven months after their wedding is not in dispute. That Terry did not give the Sligas their video until thirteen months after their wedding is also not in dispute. Although Terry provides us with dictionary definitions of all of the words she challenges, all of which she claims imply criminal behavior, we note that "[w]hile some connotations of [a] word may encompass criminal behavior, others do not." See McCabe v. Rattiner, 814 F.2d 839, 842 (1st Cir.1987). In the context of the entire news broadcast, advertisement and web story, all of which detailed the struggles the couples went through to obtain videos they paid for but had not received, the terms Terry complains of are not actionable. A reasonable viewer or reader of these media stories would not take the terms to convey anything other than what the stories reported: local couples paid in advance for wedding videos that they did not receive until months after their weddings. The same rationale applies to Mercure's statements regarding Terry's possession of the couples' baby pictures-the statements were substantially true. Terry did have the pictures while the couples did not have their videos. The statements are not actionable. See Milkovich, 497 U.S. at 20, 110 S.Ct. 2695 ("[A] statement of opinion relating to matters of public concern which does not contain a provably false factual connotation will receive full constitutional protection.").
¶ 25 Terry argues that the following broadcast statements, images and sounds, support her argument that she was portrayed as a "freakish and dangerous person":
(Some formatting and punctuation from the complaint altered.)
¶ 26 With regard to the statements and images concerning the "brawl" Terry describes, we conclude that Terry fails to show how they are defamatory.
¶ 27 Terry also argues that the circuit court erroneously dismissed her misappropriation and invasion of privacy claims. Terry argues that her image was misappropriated, contrary to WIS. STAT. § 968.31(1), because the news station used an image of Terry making a "throat cutting" gesture when it "was taken in her home without her consent." She also contends that the news station violated WIS. STAT. § 995.50, the invasion of privacy statute, when it continued to film inside her home after she declared the interview over. We disagree with both claims.
¶ 28 Terry contends that pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 968.31, the wiretap statute,
¶ 29 Terry contends that the circuit court erroneously dismissed her invasion of privacy claim because she argues that the news station violated WIS. STAT. § 995.50
¶ 30 Terry also contends that the circuit court erroneously granted summary judgment for the media defendants because the court adopted "an adverse competing inference to an admittedly false statement" when it found Mercure's statement "[p]roblem is, her business is no longer there[,]" to be inaccurate, but still granted summary judgment in the media defendants' favor. We have already concluded that this statement is not defamatory because, though inaccurate, it was immediately rectified within the same broadcast. The competing inference Terry argues — that she engaged in a fraudulent business — was resolved by Mercure's interview with Terry in her home, which confirmed that Terry did not leave town with her customer's money, was still living in Milwaukee, and was still actively engaged in her business. In considering the broadcast as a whole, "`not in detached fragments,'" it is clear that the circuit court did not adopt an adverse competing inference. See Mach, 259 Wis.2d 686, ¶ 31, 656 N.W.2d 766 (citation omitted).
¶ 31 Terry argues that the circuit court erroneously denied her motion for summary judgment on the issue of libel per se. Terry contends that Mercure's statement during the February 2, 2006 broadcast "you're robbing these people, you're cheating these people," constitutes libel per se because, she contends, it accused her of committing a crime. We disagree.
¶ 32 In Martin v. Outboard Marine Corp., 15 Wis.2d 452, 460, 113 N.W.2d 135 (1962), our supreme court explained the theory of "libel per se." The court stated that:
¶ 33 Here, we have already concluded that the phrase "you're robbing these people, you're cheating these people," in this context is not capable of defamatory meaning. Although Terry provides us with dictionary definitions of the terms "rob" and "cheat," we conclude that "[w]hile some connotations of the word may encompass criminal behavior, others do not." See McCabe, 814 F.2d at 842. Examining the statements in the context of the entire broadcast makes it clear that Mercure's statement did not imply criminal behavior. The broadcast accurately described the Uebeles' characterization of their experience with Terry and formed the basis of Mercure's statement. Mercure's statement was one of opinion and did not constitute libel per se.
¶ 34 Terry contends that the circuit court erroneously denied her motion to amend the pleadings "to conform to the evidence" pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 802.09(2). Terry's motion concerned the video recording of the promotional advertisement, which the news station did not produce to Terry's counsel until January 12, 2012. Terry sought leave to plead the exact content of the promotional video. The circuit court denied the motion, finding that her proposed amendment would add nothing to her claim because Terry had a script of the promotional advertisement, which she obtained in 2008.
¶ 35 The circuit court has wide discretion regarding amendment of pleadings and will not be reversed absent an erroneous exercise of discretion. Wiegel v. Sentry Indem. Co., 94 Wis.2d 172, 184, 287 N.W.2d 796 (1980). "However, the standard contemplates that the discretion will be exercised and that the basis for the court's reasoning will be set forth in the record." United States Fire Ins. Co. v. E.D. Wesley Co., 100 Wis.2d 59, 63, 301 N.W.2d 271 (Ct.App.1980), modified, 105 Wis.2d 305, 313 N.W.2d 833 (1982). Both events occurred here.
¶ 36 WISCONSIN STAT. § 802.09(2) allows amendments to conform to the evidence "[i]f issues not raised by the pleadings are tried by express or implied consent of the parties." We held in Thom v. OneBeacon Ins. Co., 2007 WI App 123, ¶ 25, 300 Wis.2d 607, 731 N.W.2d 657, that the statute allows for amendments to pleadings if certain issues are tried, though not raised by the pleadings. ("There was no trial in this case, only arbitration. [The party] provides no authority indicating the term `tried' in the statute refers to anything but a trial."). Similarly, there was no trial in this case. Terry's claims were dismissed on summary judgment. Moreover, the circuit court stated its reasons for denying Terry's motion on the record — the court recognized that allowing Terry to amend the pleadings in litigation which had been pending for multiple years would add nothing to her claim. Although Terry claims there are differences between the script she received in 2008 and the video she received in 2012, there are no material differences. The statement Terry sought to add to her pleadings appears in both scripts. The circuit court did not erroneously exercise its discretion.
¶ 37 Terry contends that the circuit court erroneously denied her motion to
¶ 38 A claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress contains three elements: "(1) that the defendant's conduct fell below the applicable standard of care, (2) that the plaintiff suffered an injury, and (3) that the defendant's conduct was a cause-in-fact of the plaintiff's injury." Bowen v. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 183 Wis.2d 627, 632, 517 N.W.2d 432 (1994). Additionally, "a plaintiff must prove ... severe emotional distress; but the plaintiff need not prove physical manifestation of that distress." Id.
¶ 39 Terry contends that the circuit court erroneously dismissed her claims of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, which Terry argues were independent of her defamation claims. Terry alleges that the news station's false broadcast and Mercure's conduct resulted in the loss of her wedding video business, which in turn led to severe depression and suicidal ideations.
¶ 40 The circuit court dismissed Terry's claims, finding that they were derivative of her defamation claims. In her brief-in-chief, Terry states: "Terry's emotional distress claims should be recognized to have arisen ... separately and independently from the physical confrontation and verbal epithets spoken by Mercure in Terry's home." Terry's complaint states that her negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims rest on the news station's "duty not to broadcast or publish false and/or inaccurate statements about the plaintiff." Because Terry's complaint does not address the "physical confrontation and verbal epithets spoken by Mercure in Terry's home," we do not address these issues on appeal. See State v. Dowdy, 2012 WI 12, ¶ 5, 338 Wis.2d 565, 808 N.W.2d 691 (issues not raised or considered in the trial court will not be considered for the first time on appeal).
¶ 41 Because the contents of the broadcast were not false or defamatory, Terry cannot prove that the media defendants violated any standard of care. Accordingly, Terry does not have a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress. The circuit court correctly granted summary judgment on this claim.
¶ 42 Similarly, Terry cannot prove the elements of a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Such a claim requires a showing of four elements: (1) the defendant intended to cause emotional distress by his or her conduct; (2) that the conduct was extreme and outrageous; (3) that the "conduct was a cause-in-fact of the plaintiff's emotional distress; and (4) that the plaintiff suffered an extreme
¶ 43 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the circuit court on all grounds. To the extent Terry raised issues not addressed by this opinion, we conclude that our decision on the numerous issues set forth here resolves all other issues argued by Terry.
Orders affirmed.
Right of privacy. (1) The right of privacy is recognized in this state....