ÿWPC~# N}r#1S~0³¢§Šm°­ªìúËç*þ&k$³×P²x…(jú«¬GŒDÑoÖr”Äìݬ²¥j†LT­v¢bØcc„~Bo.…wMF<<°fK ž¿ ‰ÏZƒ¬TŸÑ‹•»ˆ©OÖ.°l·0èõ$l²¹NíJÊØqžé w°Ë]-q;ÃÙú¶å²+w¹QÁÛœjУwä¢Ñ9z¥âcUÈ}Ñ BÞ×Ëp}rd×Õ—¯m­¶Ì0ê§kÉΪøvgˆÐE#@á+‘9—¹ªqÉ zÁ™s®°ð§î­¡4QšÍïU Ý :"ø Ž7çBýƒÕlNIÂû‡ûýÞµ~bÝ«¾–ܸÂÕ C ÓúÖ•@ϼ+³"<¼"[”7FóYZø³åH]Vøsóå<š Éé4ö$é 4›‘7ŽMïM*ë'¿ÞaGTwŽžâNý×Ecµ =ßAaeÂ{þàUS'MÏÈ——þM…@7Òv|òêŵ]µ$дR©ÝŒ¡Õ¢Ob™ @E³s™%N—I¸ÐÊa ÃCÇØ„ ¤xòÑÛtfŠ9艣üžågƒ”#±ˆ^íâçîV<ïýç{Ë\S Ù~ÈYcb %\U @b 0ˆ¢UN* 0Dxÿ¼^ » zÇ ÒA I ‰\oåwTÆXÆÆäƪ4pN„†•E— m™#Á°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°bqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq 0ëyyyy Bdd 0¤ D5% D-Z 0K‡ ‡ ASÒ Æ%! 0¤ë! 0D" A«Ó"»(ÈhH  Z(Times New Roman (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó õÝ ƒRo$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô²Õò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔIn€response€to€interrogatories€submitted€to€the€Beavers€after€the€suit€was€initiated,€they€admitted€they€wereÐ ° Ðpresent€at€the€polling€place€in€the€early€morning€hours€of€August€6,€1998.€€Mae€Beavers€also€admitted€Ô_Ôto€havingÔ_ÔÐ tÄ Ðcampaign€signs€in€her€Ô_Ôpossession.Ô_Ô—~)  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt ?Ý ƒRo$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô²Õò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29-24-103€Ô_ÔprovidesÔ_Ô:Ð ° Ðà  à(a)€Before€any€civil€action€is€brought€for€publication,€in€a€newspaper€or€periodical,€of€a€libel,€the€plaintiff€shall,Ð tÄ Ðat€least€five€(5)€days€before€instituting€such€action,€serve€notice€in€writing€on€the€defendant,€specifying€the€article€andÐ 8ˆ Ðthe€statements€therein€which€he€alleges€to€be€false€and€defamatory.Ð üL Ðà  à(Ô_ÔbÔ_Ô)(1)€If€it€appears€upon€the€trial€that€said€article€was€published€in€good€faith,€that€its€falsity€was€due€to€an€honestÐ À Ðmistake€of€the€facts,€and€that€there€were€reasonable€grounds€for€believing€that€the€statements€in€said€article€were€true,Ð „Ô Ðand€that€within€(10)€days€after€the€service€of€said€notice,€or€in€the€next€regular€edition€of€said€newspaper€or€periodical,Ð H ˜ Ðif€more€than€ten€(10)€days€from€date€of€notice,€a€full€and€fair€correction,€apology,€or€retraction€was€published€in€the€sameÐ  \ Ðeditions,€and€in€the€case€of€a€daily€newspaper,€in€all€editions€of€the€day€of€such€publication,€or€corresponding€issues€ofÐ Ð  Ðthe€newspaper€or€periodical€in€which€said€article€appeared;€and€in€the€case€of€newspapers€on€the€front€page€thereof,€andÐ ” ä  Ðin€the€case€of€other€periodicals€in€as€conspicuous€a€place€as€that€of€the€original€defamatory€article,€and€in€either€case,€inÐ X ¨  Ðas€conspicuous€a€plat€or€type€as€was€said€original€article,€then€the€plaintiff€shall€recover€only€actual,€and€not€punitive,Ð  l  Ðdamages.Ð à 0  Ðà  à(2)€Said€exemption€from€punitive€damages€shall€not€apply€to€any€article€about€or€affecting€a€candidate€forÐ ¤ô  Ðpolitical€office,€published€within€ten€(10)€days€before€any€election€for€the€office€for€which€he€is€a€candidate.Ð h¸  ÐÌÌ Ý ƒRo$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô²Õò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Section€580A.€€Defamation€of€Public€Official€or€Public€Figure.€€One€who€publishes€a€false€and€defamatoryÐ ° Ðcommunication€concerning€a€public€official€or€public€figure€in€regard€to€his€conduct,€fitness€or€role€in€that€capacity€isÐ tÄ Ðsubject€to€liability,€if,€but€only€if,€he€(a)€knows€that€the€statement€is€false€and€that€it€defames€the€other€person,€or€(b)€actsÐ 8ˆ Ðin€reckless€disregard€of€these€matters.€€òòRestatement€(Second)€of€Torts€ðð€580A€(1977).óó eÝ ƒRo$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô²Õò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔThe€Beavers€filed€suit€against€Newspaper,€Sam€Ô_ÔHatcherÔ_Ô€(Newspaperððs€€CEO),€Clint€Brewer,€Chris€Floyd,€andÐ ° ÐLieutenant€Ô_ÔGraves.Ô_Ô€€For€purposes€of€appeal,€the€Beavers€do€not€pursue€the€claim€against€Graves.€(Ô_ÔseeÔ_Ô€Supp.€record)€InÐ tÄ Ðaddition,€it€appears€that€the€Beavers€do€not€pursue€the€claim€against€Ô_ÔBrewer.Ô_ÔLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5õ}|)ê:i¢Ø+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0- ù-(|G2o$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô²Õò»»Ô d(|3?u$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3?u$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼»»»ÔÑ8€[¡XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îìÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼»îîì #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓJULY€11,€2000€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X[¡X»¼ÔÌò òÔ#†¼»XX[¡ò#ÔMAE€BEAVERS,€òòet€al.óó€v.€THE€LEBANON€DEMOCRAT€NEWSPAPER,€òòetÐ úJ Ðalóó.Ô‡X[¡X»¼Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Wilson€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€10573;€€The€Honorable€Tom€E.€Gray,€Judge,€Sitting€by€InterchangeÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„02401„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€November€30,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡X[¡XXX[¡ÔThis€appeal€arises€from€an€action€initiated€by€Plaintiffs,€Mae€and€Jerry€Beavers,€against€theÐ ŒÜ ÐDefendant€newspaper,€the€Lebanon€Democrat,€for€libel€and€slander.€€The€Beaversðð€claim€arises€outÐ xÈ Ðof€two€separate€articles€published€by€the€newspaper.€€The€trial€court€granted€the€newspaperððs€motionÐ d´ Ðfor€summary€judgment,€holding€that€the€first€article€was€substantially€true€and€the€second€article€wasÐ P  Ða€non„actionable€opinion.€€The€Beavers€appeal.Ô#†X[¡XXX[¡#ÔÔ#†¼»XX[¡•#ÔÔ‡X[¡X»¼ÔÐ <Œ ÐÓøÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed€in€Part,Ð d ÐReversed€in€Part€and€Remandedó óÐ P ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼»àX[¡x#ÔÔ‡X[¡X.¼ÔAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.,óóÐ Ø( Ðand€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€joined.Ð Ä ÐÌErnest€W.€Williams,€Dana€C.€Ô_ÔMcLendonÔ_Ô,€III,€for€AppellantsÐ œì ÐÌAlfred€H.€Knight,€Alan€D.€Johnson,€for€AppelleesÐ t Ä ÐÓeÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼»XX[¡”#ÔÔ‡X[¡X»¼ÔÐ L"œ! ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼»XX[¡b #ÔÔ‡X[¡X»¼ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡X[¡XXX[¡ÔBoth€at€the€time€the€underlying€action€arose€and€at€present,€Mae€Beavers€(ð ðBeaversðð)€was€servingÐ $$t# Ðas€a€state€representative€for€the€legislative€district€that€includes€Wilson€County.€€Mae€Beavers€isÐ %` $ Ðmarried€to€Jerry€Beavers,€an€employee€of€the€United€Parcel€Service.€€€The€Lebanon€DemocratÐ ü%L!% Ð(ð ðNewspaperðð)€is€a€daily€newspaper€published€in€Wilson€County.Ð è&8"& ÐÌà  àOn€or€about€August€6,€1998,€a€local€police€lieutenant€named€Barry€Graves€witnessed€BeaversÐ À($( Ðand€her€husband€ð ðrunning€with€a€campaign€yard€signðð€at€a€polling€location€around€two€in€theÐ ¬)ü$) Ðmorning.€€The€lieutenant€was€off„duty€at€the€time€and€in€the€process€of€placing€campaign€signs€forÐ ˜*è%* Ðanother€candidate.€€According€to€Graves,€he€could€not€see€what€sign€Beavers€was€holding,€and€heÐ „+Ô&+ Ðâ âcould€not€say€whether€it€was€one€of€her€own,€or€another€candidateððs€sign.Ð p,À',ým Ðà  àFollowing€the€incident,€Newspaper€employees€contacted€Beavers€for€a€comment,€and€sheÐ ° Ðâ ârefuted€the€allegation.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€August€11,€1998,€Newspaper€again€contacted€Beavers€to€inform€her€ofÐ œì Ðtheir€intention€to€include€the€allegation€in€a€political€opinion€column€to€be€printed€the€following€day.Ð ˆØ ÐAt€her€request,€Beavers€was€read€the€article€by€its€author,€Clint€Brewer.€€The€article€included€inÐ tÄ Ðrelevant€part:Ð `° Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€1998€Wilson€County€General€Election€is€over€and€theÐ L œ Ðconspiracy€theorists€are€out€in€full€force.€€Perhaps€it€would€all€beÐ 8 ˆ Ðeasier€to€stomach€if€the€folks€questioning€the€vote€totals€werenððt€theÐ $ t Ðcandidates€who€got€obliterated€at€the€polls.€€In€relation€to€the€OliverÐ  ` ÐStone€disciples€among€our€field€of€candidates€and€would„be€publicÐ ü L  Ðservants,€the€post„election€hangover€had€brought€the€typical€rash€ofÐ è 8  Ðrumors€and€innuendo...ÐÔ$ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àPerhaps€the€most€pervasive€and€irresponsible€rumor€is€thatÐ À  Ð57òòthóó€District€State€Representative€Mae€Beavers€was€caught€red€handedÐ ¬ü  Ðby€law€enforcement€officials€stealing€campaign€signs€from€a€pollingÐ ˜è  Ðplace€in€the€wee€morning€hours.€€Beavers€was€very€succinct€in€herÐ „Ô  Ðdefense€saying€simply,€ð ðIt€is€a€vicious€lie.ðð€ÐpÀ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àYet€Wilson€County€Sheriffððs€Department€Lieutenant€BarryÐ \¬ ÐGraves€maintains€he€saw€Beavers€at€2:00€a.m.€on€August€5/6€at€aÐ H˜ Ðpolling€location€off€Central€Pike€accompanied€by€her€husband€JerryÐ 4„ ÐBeavers.€€ð ðWe€were€off€putting€up€some€of€our€signs.€€We€came€upÐ  p Ðthe€road€and€saw€somebody€run€toward€the€parking€lot.€€I€know€herÐ  \ Ðand€her€and€her€husband€was€on€the€other€side€of€the€road.ðð€ÐøH` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àGraves€added€that€he€did€not€actually€see€Beavers€or€herÐ ä4 Ðhusband€taking€any€signs€though€he€said€Beavers€had€one€in€her€hand.€Ð Ð  ÐGraves€could€also€not€positively€identify€which€campaign€signÐ ¼  ÐBeavers€allegedly€was€holding,€ð ðI€donððt€know€if€something€gotÐ ¨ø Ðstopped€before€it€was€started,ðð€Graves€said,€adding€he€was€off€duty€atÐ ”ä Ðthe€time€of€the€alleged€incident.€€Ð€Ð` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àBeavers€reiterated€her€denial€that€the€incident€ever€took€placeÐ l¼ Ðand€said€she€plans€to€consult€with€her€attorney€regarding€GravesððÐ X ¨ Ðstatement.€€ð ðNobody€saw€me€and€nobody€stopped€me.€€It€is€aÐ D!” Ðcomplete€falsehood,ðð€Beavers€said.€€Ð0"€ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAnd€though€public€officials€have€been€caught€and€charged€inÐ #l! Ðthe€recent€past€for€messing€with€campaign€signs,€a€survey€of€offenseÐ $X" Ðreports€at€the€Sheriffððs€Department€found€no€report€was€filed€on€theÐ ô$D # Ðalleged€incident€involving€Beavers.Ðà%0!$` x` x Ðâ âÐ Ì&"% Ðà  àDespite€Beaversðð€objection,€the€article€was€published€on€August€12,€1998.€€Another€articleÐ ° Ðâ âconcerning€the€incident€was€published€on€August€17,€1998.€€The€August€17€article€was€written€byÐ œì ÐChris€Floyd.€€Although€the€article€did€not€specifically€mention€Mae€Beavers,€the€parties€acknowledgeÐ ˆØ Ðthat€it€referred€to€her.€The€article€included€the€following:Ð tÄ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àBut€what€about€the€behavior€that€some€of€our€mostÐ L œ Ðð ðrespectableðð€candidates€exhibited€during€the€political€season?Ð 8 ˆ ÐAttacks€by€proxy,€using€third€parties€to€do€their€dirty€work;€maliciousÐ $ t Ðdistortions€of€fact,€and€character€assassination€by€innuendo;€òòeven€theÐ  ` Ðpetty€act€of€sign€stealing.€(In€fact,€one€prominent€elected€officialÐ ü L  Ðnarrowly€escaped€arrest€for€tearing€down€signs€on€election€eveð!ðandÐ è 8  Ðthey€didnððt€even€have€an€opponent!€It€was€just€sheer€personal€spite.)óóÐ Ô$  Ð(emphasis€added)ÐÀ ` x` x Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àÌà  àOn€September€15,€1998,€Beavers€served€written€notice€to€the€newspaper€of€the€ð ðfalse€andÐ ˜è  Ðdefamatory€statementðð€contained€in€the€two€articles€pursuant€to€section€ðð29„24„103€of€the€TennesseeÐ „Ô  ÐCode.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€According€to€Beavers,€the€newspaper€did€not€publish€a€ð ðfull€and€fair€retraction,€correctionÐ pÀ Ðor€apology.ðð€€Thereafter,€the€Beavers€filed€suit€against€NewspaperÔ_Ô׃ X×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€for€libel€and€slander€in€theÐ \¬ ÐWilson€County€Circuit€Court.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àNewspaper€moved€for€summary€judgment€on€the€Beaversðð€claim€pursuant€to€Rule€56€of€theÐ  p ÐTennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€€The€trial€court€granted€Newspaperððs€motion,€holding€the€firstÐ  \ Ðarticle€was€ð ðsubstantially€trueðð€and€the€second€article€contained€no€false€defamatory€statements,Ð øH ÐBeavers€did€not€show€malice€on€the€part€of€its€author,€and€it€was€a€non„actionable€ð ðexpression€ofÐ ° Ðopinion.ðð€€€The€Beavers€appeal.Ð œì ÐÓ  Óò òAnalysisÐ ˆØ ÐÌó óÓ  Óà  àAs€a€preliminary€matter,€we€find€it€appropriate€to€note€that€neither€party€addresses€the€AugustÐ `° Ð12òòóó€article€on€appeal.€€Instead,€both€parties€focus€solely€on€the€August€17òòóó€article€and€its€allegedÐ L œ Ðdefamatory€qualities.€€Furthermore,€because€the€August€17òòóó€article€in€no€way€mentions€or€refers€toÐ 8 ˆ ÐJerry€Beavers,€we€find€it€unnecessary€to€discuss€his€defamation€claim.€€For€that€reason,€our€reviewÐ $ t Ðis€limited€to€Mae€Beaversðð€defamation€claim€regarding€the€August€17òòóó€article.€€With€the€foregoingÐ  ` Ðin€mind,€we€now€turn€to€the€appropriateness€of€the€trial€courtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment.Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€or€denying€a€Rule€56€Motion€for€Summary€JudgmentÐ Ô$  Ðis€purely€a€question€of€law.€€òòSeeóó€TÔ#†¼»XX[¡À #ÔÔ‡ô²Õò»¼ÔENNÔ#†¼»òô²Õ·*#ÔÔ‡X[¡X»¼Ô.€R.€Ô_ÔCÔ#†¼»XX[¡ü*#ÔÔ‡ô²Õò»¼ÔIVÔ_ÔÔ#†¼»òô²ÕT+#ÔÔ‡X[¡X»¼Ô.€P.€Rule€56.04.€€On€review,€no€presumption€ofÐ À  Ðcorrectness€attaches€to€the€trial€courtððs€judgment.€€Therefore,€our€task€is€limited€to€determiningÐ ¬ü  Ðwhether€the€requirements€for€summary€judgment€have€been€met.€€òòÔ_ÔCowdenÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔSovranÔ_Ô€Bank/CentralÐ ˜è  ÐSouthóó,€816€S.W.2d€741,€744€(Tenn.€1991).€€A€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment€should€be€granted€onlyÐ „Ô  Ðwhen€there€is€no€genuine€issue€with€regard€to€the€material€facts€relevant€to€the€claim€or€defenseÐ pÀ Ðcontained€in€the€motion,€and€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law€on€theÐ \¬ Ðundisputed€facts.€€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.1993);€òòAnderson€v.€Standard€RegisterÐ H˜ ÐCo.óó,€857€S.W.2d€555,€559€(Tenn.1993).€€The€moving€party€has€the€burden€of€proving€that€its€motionÐ 4„ Ðsatisfies€these€requirements.€€€òòÔ_ÔDownenÔ_Ô€v.€Allstate€Ins.€Co.óó,€811€S.W.2d€523,€524€(Tenn.1991).Ð  p Ðà  àÌà  àThe€standards€governing€the€assessment€of€evidence€in€the€summary€judgment€context€areÐ øH Ðalso€well€established.€€Courts€must€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€nonmovingÐ ä4 Ðparty€and€must€also€draw€all€reasonable€inferences€in€the€nonmoving€party's€favor.€€€òòByrdóó,€847Ð Ð  ÐS.W.2d€at€210-11.€€Courts€should€grant€a€summary€judgment€only€when€both€the€facts€and€theÐ ¼  Ðinferences€to€be€drawn€from€the€facts€permit€a€reasonable€person€to€reach€only€one€conclusion.€€òòÔ_ÔBainÔ_ÔÐ ¨ø Ðv.€Wellsóó,€936€S.W.2d€618,€622€(Tenn.€1997).€€With€the€foregoing€in€mind,€we€now€turn€to€the€caseÐ ”ä Ðat€bar.à  àò òòòÐ €Ð ÐÓ  ÓóóDefamationòòÐ l¼ ÐÌóóó óÓ  Óà  àOn€appeal,€the€Beavers€assert€that€the€August€17òòóó€article€defamed€Mae€Beavers,€a€publicÐ D!” Ðofficial.€€Newspaper€asserts€that€the€article€was€not€defamatory€and€that€it€was€merely€an€expressionÐ 0"€  Ðof€opinion.€€The€trial€court€found€in€favor€of€Newspaper,€holding€that€the€article€was€non„actionable.€Ð #l! ÐFor€the€following€reasons,€we€find€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€summary€judgment€on€thisÐ $X" Ðissue.Ð ô$D # ÐÌà  àFirst,€in€analyzing€a€defamation€claim,€we€must€determine€whether€Ms.€Beavers€is€a€publicÐ Ì&"% Ðofficial€for€purposes€of€this€action.€€Although€the€term€ð ðpublic€officialðð€has€not€been€specificallyÐ ¸'#& Ðdefined,€it€causes€us€no€particular€concern.€€Usually,€the€title€and€nature€of€the€office€will€provideÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€answer.€€As€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€stated€in€òòPress,€Inc.€v.€Ô_ÔVerranÔ_Ôóó,€569€S.W.2d€435€(1978),Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) ÐÓ °ÓÓ °ÓThe€occupant€of€any€position€in€any€branch€of€government€whoÐ ° Ðâ âexercises€any€public€function€is€subject€to€the€New€York€Times€ruleÐ œì Ðas€to€all€conduct€in€his€official€capacity€or€as€to€any€conduct€thatÐ ˆØ Ðmight€adversely€affect€his€fitness€for€public€office,€if€he€has€orÐ tÄ Ðappear(s)€to€the€public€to€have,€substantial€responsibilities€for€orÐ `° Ðcontrol€over€the€conduct€of€governmental€affairs.òòóóÐ L œ ÐÓ °Õ7ÓÓ °Ç7ÓÌòòId.óó€at€441.Ð $ t ÐÌAccordingly,€due€to€Mae€Beavers€status€as€a€state€representative,€we€find€that€she€is€a€public€officialÐ ü L  Ðfor€purposes€of€this€action.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àThe€seminal€case€involving€a€libel€action€brought€by€a€public€official€is€òòNew€York€Times€Co.Ð À  Ðv.€Sullivanóó,€376€U.S.€254€(1964).€€The€Supreme€Court€noted€that€there€is€ð ða€profound€nationalÐ ¬ü  Ðcommitment€to€the€principle€that€debate€on€public€issues€should€be€uninhibited,€robust,€and€wide„Ð ˜è  Ðopen,€and€that€it€may€well€include€vehement,€caustic,€and€sometimes€unpleasantly€sharp€attacks€onÐ „Ô  Ðgovernment€and€public€officials.ðð€€òòSee€id.óó€at€270.€€In€order€to€assure€that€the€press€will€not€beÐ pÀ Ðhampered€in€its€reporting€of€official€events€or€conduct,€the€Supreme€Court€stated€that€a€public€officialÐ \¬ Ðcould€not€collect€damages€for€a€defamatory€falsehood€related€to€his€official€conduct€unless€theÐ H˜ Ðstatement€was€made€with€ð ðactual€malice.ðð€€Moreover,€the€Court€stated€the€following:Ð 4„ ÐÌÓ °ÓÓ °Ó[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_Ô€constitutional€guarantees€require,€we€think,€a€federal€rule€thatÐ  \ Ðprohibits€a€public€official€from€recovering€damages€for€a€defamatoryÐ øH Ðfalsehood€relating€to€his€official€conduct€unless€he€proves€that€theÐ ä4 Ðstatement€was€made€with€ð ðactual€maliceððð!ð€that€is,€with€knowledgeÐ Ð  Ðthat€it€was€false€or€with€reckless€disregard€of€whether€it€was€false€orÐ ¼  Ðnot.Ð ¨ø ÐÓ °ÓÓ °Óà  àÌòòSee€id.óó€at€279.Ð €Ð Ðà  àÌà  àIn€òòPress,€Inc.€v.€Ô_ÔVerranÔ_Ôóó,€569€S.W.2d€435€(Tenn.€1978),€our€supreme€court€stated€that,€ð ðtheÐ X ¨ ÐSupreme€Court€of€the€United€States€has€constitutionalized€the€law€of€libel€and,€in€materialÐ D!” Ðparticulars,€has€preempted€state€statutory€and€decisional€law€in€cases€and€controversies€involving€theÐ 0"€  Ðcommunications€media.ðð€€The€court€also€referred€to€Article€I,€Section€19,€of€the€TennesseeÐ #l! ÐConstitution,€which€states€the€following:Ð $X" ÐÌÓ °ÓÓ °ÓThat€the€printing€presses€shall€be€free€to€every€person€to€examine€theÐ à%0!$ Ðproceedings€of€the€Legislature;€or€of€any€branch€or€officer€of€theÐ Ì&"% Ðgovernment,€and€no€law€shall€ever€be€made€to€restrain€the€rightÐ ¸'#& Ðthereof.€€The€free€communication€of€thoughts€and€opinions,€is€one€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€invaluable€rights€of€man,€and€every€citizen€may€freely€speak,Ð )à$( Ðwrite,€and€print€on€any€subject,€being€responsible€for€the€abuse€of€thatÐ |*Ì%) Ðliberty.Ð h+¸&* Ðà ¸ àà  àÌÓ °ÓÓ °ÓMoreover,€in€òòÔ_ÔVerranÔ_Ôóó,€our€supreme€court€adopted€section€580A€of€the€Restatement€(Second)€of€Torts,׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð œì Ðstating€that€ð ð[Ô_Ôw]eÔ_Ô€believe€that€these€standards€meet€the€criteria€of€our€federal€and€state€constitutionsÐ ˆØ Ðand€we€adopt€them€as€the€law€of€this€jurisdiction.ðð€€òòÔ_ÔVerranÔ_Ôóó,€569€S.W.2d€at€442.€€Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àIt€is€thus€clear€that€a€public€official€may€not€recover€in€a€defamation€action€from€a€mediaÐ L œ Ðdefendant€without€a€showing€of€ð ðactual€malice.ðð€€òòPress,€Inc.€v.€Ô_ÔVerranÔ_Ôóó,€569€S.W.2d€435,€441€(Tenn.Ð 8 ˆ Ð1978)€(citing€òòRosenblatt€v.€Baeróó,€383€U.S.€75,€86€Ô_ÔS.CtÔ_Ô.€669,€15€Ô_ÔL.EdÔ_Ô.2d€597€(1966)).€€In€the€contextÐ $ t Ðof€libel€actions,€liability€is€not€predicated€upon€ð ðhatred,€spite,€ill€will,€or€desire€to€injureðð€on€the€partÐ  ` Ðof€the€defendant,€but€only€upon€the€ð ðknowledge€of€falsity€or€reckless€disregard€of€the€truthðð€standard.€Ð ü L  ÐòòSee€Old€Dominion€Br.€NO.€496,€Ô_ÔNatððlÔ_Ô.€Ô_ÔAssððnÔ_Ô€of€Letter€Carriers.€v.€Austinóó,€418€U.S.€264,€281€(1974).òòò òÐ è 8  ÐÌà  àóóó óBoth€in€the€lower€court€and€on€appeal,€the€Beavers€assert€that€the€August€17òò€óóarticleòòóó€fallsÐ À  Ðwithin€the€standard€for€defamation€of€a€public€official.€€In€support€of€this€argument,€the€Beavers€relyÐ ¬ü  Ðon€Newspaperððs€admitted€knowledge€that€the€campaign€sign€incident€was€a€rumor.€€In€addition,€theÐ ˜è  ÐBeavers€point€out€that€the€very€premise€of€the€August€12òòóó€article€was€the€ð ðpervasive€and€irresponsibleÐ „Ô  Ðrumorsðð€surrounding€the€election.€€The€Beavers€argue€that€by€publishing€the€August€17òòóó€article€whichÐ pÀ Ðincludes€the€phrase,€ð ðIn€fact,ðð€Newspaper€has€taken€the€article€out€of€the€realm€of€mere€opinion.€Ð \¬ ÐThus,€the€Beavers€attempt€to€refute€both€the€trial€courtððs€holding€that€there€was€no€showing€of€actualÐ H˜ Ðmalice€and€the€holding€that€the€article€was€non„actionable€opinion.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àNewspaper€claims€that€it€published€the€August€17òòóó€article€without€actual€malice.€€AccordingÐ  \ Ðto€Newspaper,€it€did€not€consider€the€campaign€sign€incident€to€be€either€actually€or€probably€false.€Ð øH ÐIn€addition,€Newspaper€claims€that€the€August€17òòóó€article€was€an€opinion€statement€that€could€neitherÐ ä4 Ðbe€proven€true€nor€false.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àBased€on€the€standards€for€defamation€and€the€facts€of€this€case,€we€find€that€the€grant€ofÐ ¨ø Ðsummary€judgment€was€not€proper.€€òòóóWe€must€view€the€facts€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€non„Ð ”ä Ðmoving€party,€and€as€such€we€find€that€there€are€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€regarding€whetherÐ €Ð ÐNewspaper€acted€with€actual€malice€in€publishing€the€August€17òòóó€article€and€whether€the€article€itselfÐ l¼ Ðwas€mere€opinion.€€Specifically,€we€find€that€there€are€material€issues€of€fact€regarding€whetherÐ X ¨ ÐNewspaper€acted€with€reckless€disregard€for€the€truth€of€the€incident.€€Accordingly,€Newspaper€wasÐ D!” Ðnot€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law€and€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€the€motion€forÐ 0"€  Ðsummary€judgment€on€this€issue.€€Therefore,€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€on€this€issue€is€herebyÐ #l! Ðreversed€and€remanded€for€further€proceedings.€€òòò òóóÐ $X" ÐÌÓ  ÓÌÐ Ì&"% ÐConclusionÐ ° ÐÌó óÓQUÓà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€grant€of€summary€judgment€as€to€the€August€12òòóó€article€andÐ ˆØ ÐJerry€Beaversðð€defamation€claim€is€hereby€affirmed.€€The€grant€of€summary€judgment€as€it€pertainsÐ tÄ Ðto€the€August€17òòóó€article€and€the€defamation€claim€of€Mae€Beavers€is€reversed€and€remanded€for€aÐ `° Ðtrial€on€the€merits.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€taxed€one„half€to€Appellants,€Mae€&€Jerry€Beavers,€and€one„Ð L œ Ðhalf€to€Appellee,€The€Lebanon€Democrat€Newspaper,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.Ô#†X[¡XXX[¡ë #ÔÔ#†¼»XX[¡¨+#ÔÔ€X[¡X»¼ÔÐ 8 ˆ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð è 8  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGE