United States Fourth Circuit

Plaintiff's open court statement, that he was a victim of sexual assault, was a public statement that cannot serve as the basis for an invasion of privacy claim under South Carolina law. A reporter did not owe a fiduciary duty to plaintiff, this the disclosure of plaintiff's identity in an article did not rise to the tort of fraudulent misrepresentation.

Appellate Information

• Decided 06/11/2003
• Published 06/11/2003

Judges

• Before WILKINSON and SHEDD, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Gregg Meyers, Charleston, South Carolina, for Appellant.   Jerry Jay Bender, Baker, Ravenel & Bender, L.L.P., Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  Holly L. Palmer, Baker, Ravenel & Bender, L.L.P., Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellee.