Law School Case Briefs
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CURTIS PUBLISHING CO. v. BUTTS
Supreme Court of United States (1967) | 388 U.S. 130; 87 S.Ct. 1975; 18 L.Ed.2d 1094
TL;DR: The Supreme Court extended the libel rule from New York Times v. Sullivan to "public figures," not just "public officials." A magazine was found liable for defaming a football coach due to its reckless reporting, establishing that public figures can win libel suits under a heightened fault standard.
Legal Significance: This case extended First Amendment protections to libel suits brought by "public figures," requiring them to prove a higher degree of fault than private individuals. It established that grossly irresponsible journalism against a public figure is not constitutionally protected speech.