Brent A. Taylor v. Tom Antisdel, et. al.
21A-CT-1934
Civil tort. Affirms the Allen Superior Court’s dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by Brent A. Taylor against multiple local news outlets. Finds the trial court didn’t err in in dismissing the lawsuit. Also finds the statements Taylor alleged were defamatory were a matter of public concern, and he didn’t allege any facts tending to show the outlets reported with actual malice, as they did not report on anything other than the information contained in court documents and police records. Finally, finds that even if a false statement was published, Taylor cannot establish sufficient proof to permit the conclusion that the outlets entertained “serious doubts” as to the truth of their publications or that there was a “high degree of awareness that the statements were probably false.”