Supreme Court of Texas

A call-in television talk show host's defamatory statements of a judge's corruption were not constitutionally protected opinion, but a mental anguish damages award had no evidentiary support and was excessive as a matter of law by constitutional standards.

Appellate Information

• Argued 02/21/2001
• Decided 08/29/2002
• Published 08/29/2002

Judges

• Justice HECHT delivered the opinion for the Court with respect to Parts I, III, IV, and V, in which Justice OWEN, Justice BAKER (except for Part V-D), Justice JEFFERSON, and Justice RODRIGUEZ joined, with respect to Part II, in which Chief Justice PHILLIPS, Justice ENOCH, Justice OWEN, Justice BAKER, Justice HANKINSON, Justice JEFFERSON, and Justice RODRIGUEZ joined, and with respect to Part VII, in which Chief Justice PHILLIPS, Justice ENOCH, Justice OWEN, Justice HANKINSON, Justice JEFFERSON, and Justice RODRIGUEZ joined, and an opinion with respect to Part VI, in which Justice OWEN, Justice JEFFERSON, and Justice RODRIGUEZ joined.

Court

• Supreme Court of Texas

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Mike A. Hatchell, Molly H. Hatchell, Hatchell P.C., Tyler, George Chandler, Reich Chandler, Chandler Law Offices, Lufkin, Darrin M. Walker, Law Office of Darrin Walker, Kingwood, for Petitioner.


• For Appellees:
  
• Robert L. Crider, Palestine, Armando De Diego, The Law Office of Armando De Diego, Dallas, Ronald D. Wren, Bedford, for Respondents.