United States Ninth Circuit

In an action by an automobile manufacturer for product disparagement, based on a story in a consumer magazine that rated its vehicle "not acceptable", summary judgment for the magazine was improper where actual malice was shown through financial motive, test-rigging, and purposeful avoidance of the truth.

Appellate Information

• Argued 02/12/2002
• Decided 06/25/2002
• Published 06/25/2002

Judges

• Before FERGUSON, TASHIMA, and GRABER, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Robert B. Fiske, Jr.,Michael P. Carroll, William C. Komaroff, Davis, Polk & Wardwell, New York, NY, Gene S. Schaerr, David J. Lewis,Paul J. Zidlicky, Michael S. Lee, Sidley & Austin, Washington, DC, James Harris, Sidley & Austin, Los Angeles, CA, George F. Ball, Newport Beach, CA, for the plaintiff-appellant., John H. Clarke, Washington, DC, for amicus curiae Accuracy in Media, Inc.;  Kieran P. Fallon, Miami, FL, for amici curiae Bill Seidle Suzuki, Bob Lewis Suzuki, David O'Neal Suzuki, Five Star Suzuki, Jim Hudson Suzuki, and Roger Beasley Suzuki;  and Richard A. Samp, Washington, DC, for amicus curiae Washington Legal Foundation, all seeking reversal.


• For Appellees:
  
• Michael N. Pollet, Pollet & Felleman, Yonkers, NY, for the defendant-appellee.