United States DC Circuit

By choosing to become a combat pilot in a time of public controversy about women in combat, plaintiff became a voluntary limited-purpose public figure. No reasonable juror could find by clear and convincing evidence that defamation defendants acted with actual malice in any of the four publications at issue, thus plaintiff failed to meet her burden of proof as a public figure.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/12/2003
• Published 12/12/2003

Judges

• Before:  ROGERS and ROBERTS, Circuit Judges, and SILBERMAN, Senior Circuit Judge.

Court

• United States DC Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Rodney A. Smolla argued the cause and filed the briefs for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Kent Masterson Brown argued the cause for appellees.   With him on the brief was Frank M. Northam.