ÿWPCW 8#  UN+ %y 0cU<âw@4^r AQ‰ 0§Ú 0J 0TË 0^ 0h} 0rå 0|W 0†Ó 0Y 1ué 0d^ 0@ D3 0D5 U>y B)· DCà AM# Bp Æ 0DS 0D— D/Û B U*'_Qs°€#Ç£fjU6Ðv~vÓ„˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(;1˜$¡¡Ò°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XcXXXÔ-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman -.E/0U1U2U3î4Ó€5Ó€Aäzz!(ÿÿÿÿÿÿñÔ3|xA*+ ,-Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ(W(3S$¤¤Ý ƒ1˜!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XÔ9XXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò))))'ÿÿdxd(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d&&&&7Border 1dd* 'Cþÿ << Gÿÿ dƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó..'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd< Œ 9p`(Arial UÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ+"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€/ÔÔ€/ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€/XÔÌÌò òAprilÏ10,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€/ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó iÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Kenneth€Neill€is€the€publisher€of€the€òòFlyer.óó€€On€July€20,€1990,€MomanÏtook€a€voluntary€nonsuit€against€Gregg€Cravens€only.€€Cravens€is€not€a€party€toÏthis€appeal.Ì vÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€ò òòòPhiladelphia€Newspapers,€Inc.€v.€Heppsóóó ó,€475€U.S.€766,€106€S.€Ct.€1558,Ï89€L.€Ed.€2d€783€(1986);€ò òòòGreenbelt€Coop.€Publððg€Assððn.€v.€Bresleró óóó,€398€U.S.€6,Ï90€S.€Ct.€1537,€26€L.€Ed.€2d€6€(1970);€ò òòòOld€Dominion€Branch€No.€496€v.ÏAustinóóó ó,€418€U.S.€264,€94€S.€Ct.€2770,€41€L.€Ed.€2d€745€(1974);€ò òòòHustlerÏMagazine€v.€Falwellóóó ó,€485€U.S.€46,€108€S.€Ct.€876,€99€L.€Ed.€2d€41€(1988);€ò òòòNewÏYork€Times€Co.€v.€Sullivanó óóó,€376€U.S.€254,€84€S.€Ct.€710€(1964);€ò òòòCurtis€PublððgÏCo.€v.€Buttsóóó ó,€388€U.S.€130,€87€S.€Ct.€1975,€18€L.€Ed.€2d€1094€(1967);€òòò òGertz€v.ÏRobert€Welch,€Inc.ó óóó,€418€U.S.€323,€94€S.€Ct.€2997,€41€L.€Ed.€2d€789€(1974).Ì ½Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€On€March€9,€1987,€òòThe€Commercial€Appealóó€printed€an€article€about€RingoÏStarr€stating,€ð ðAn€aging€Beatle€is€yesterdayððs€news.ðð€€Many€musicians,€includingÏMoman,€picketed€on€the€lawn€of€òòThe€Commercial€Appealóó€in€protest€of€the€article.Ì \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ< Œ 9p`(Courier NewPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€%ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€Ü¥XXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌà àà à€€€€______________________________________________ÌÌò òLINCOLN€W.€(CHIPS)€MOMAN,€ó óÌÌà àAppellant,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àShelby€Circuit€No.€29502€T.D.ÌÙ€*ÙßR€(0'A1-j||þ` à. `€€@ÿRßVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€02A01„9608„CV00182ÌÌò òM.€M.€CORPORATION,€d/b/a€ÌTHE€MEMPHIS€FLYER,€H.€ÌDAVID€LYONS,€KENNETH€NEILL,Ìand€GREGG€CRAVENS,€ó óÌÌà àAppellees.Ì____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€SHELBY€COUNTYÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€GEORGE€H.€BROWN,€JR.ÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àHal€Gerber€and€Lewis€R.€Polk,€III€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€AppellantÌÌà@ àJerry€Mitchell€and€John€H.€Dotson€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€AppelleesÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òVACATED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌó óà@ àOpinion€filed:€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌÌ›ÓÓà àThis€is€a€libel€case.€€Plaintiff,€Lincoln€W.€(Chips)€Moman,€appeals€fromÏthe€order€of€the€trial€court€denying€his€motion€to€compel€discovery€andÏgranting€the€defendantsðð€motion€for€summary€judgment.Ìà àChips€Moman€is€a€nationally€known€producer€of€phonograph€records.€€InÏ1985,€Richard€Hackett,€then€the€mayor€of€Memphis,€and€Ron€Terry,€theÏpresident€of€First€Tennessee€Bank,€approached€Moman€about€moving€toÏMemphis€to€rejuvenate€the€music€industry€in€Memphis.€€Moman€moved€toÏMemphis€and€opened€3€Alarm€Studio€in€an€old€fire€station€at€Third€and€LindenÏin€downtown€Memphis.€€Although€the€precise€arrangements€are€not€clear€fromÏthe€record,€it€is€conceded€that€First€Tennessee€Bank€made€a€loan€in€the€amountÍof€$720,000.00€to€Moman€Recording€Corporation€that€was€guaranteed€byÏMoman.€€The€proceeds€of€the€loan€were€used€for€rehabilitation€and€remodelingÏof€the€old€building.€€The€City€of€Memphis€leased€the€building€to€Moman,Ïindividually,€and€Moman€Recording€Corporation,€as€lessees,€for€$1.00€per€year,Ïwith€an€option€to€purchase.€€In€addition,€Moman€did€not€have€to€pay€tax€on€theÏproperty€because€of€the€cityððs€ownership€of€the€property.€€Although€3€AlarmÏStudio€produced€a€few€successful€records,€the€venture€was€not€profitable,€andÏeventually,€Moman€had€to€declare€bankruptcy.€€€€€€Ìà àThe€M.€M.€Corporation€publishes€òòThe€Memphis€Flyeróó,€a€weeklyÏentertainment€newspaper.€€In€1989,€the€òòFlyer€óópublished€two€articles€aboutÏMomanððs€recording€studio€and€record€production€business.€€The€first€article,Ïentitled€ð ðGoodbye,€Mr.€Chips,ðð€appeared€in€the€April€6„12,€1989€editionÏ(Volume€I,€No.€8).€€A€caricature€showing€Moman€waiving€ð ðgoodbyeðð€as€he€wasÏleaving€Memphis€with€money€stuffed€in€his€pockets€was€on€the€front€cover€ofÏVolume€I,€No.€8€and€was€reprinted€on€page€eleven€of€the€same€volume€with€theÏtext€of€the€article.€€The€article€was€written€by€H.€David€Lyons,€and€theÏcaricature€was€drawn€by€Gregg€Cravens.€€The€second€article€was€printed€in€theÏð ðTomorrowððs€News,€Today€Rumor€Millðð€section€of€the€April€27„May€3,€1989Ïedition€(Volume€I,€No.€11).Ìà àOn€June€2,€1989,€Moman€filed€a€complaint€against€the€M.€M.ÏCorporation,€H.€David€Lyons,€Kenneth€Neill,€and€Gregg€Cravens.× ƒ1 ××  ×€ÏContemporary€Media,€Inc.,€a€subsidiary€of€M.€M.€Corporation,€was€added€as€aÏdefendant€in€an€amended€complaint€filed€May€11,€1990.€€Moman€first€allegesÏthat€the€caricatureÌð ðfalsely€and€maliciously€portrays€plaintiff€in€a€demeaning€and€derogatory€way.ðð€ÏHe€claims€that€the€caricature€ð ðis€libelous,€false,€holds€plaintiff€in€an€untrue€light,Ïsubjects€plaintiff€to€ridicule€and€contempt,€has€damaged€his€good€name€andÏreputation€among€his€peers€and€the€citizens€of€Memphis€and€has€caused€himÏgreat€financial€loss,€mental€pain,€and€suffering€for€embarrassment€to€him€and€hisÏfamily.ðð€€Moman€also€alleges€that€the€first€article€contains€twenty„threeÏdefamatory€statements€that€ð ðare€false,€portray€plaintiff€in€a€false€light,€wereÏmade€with€malicious€intent€to€humiliate,€embarrass€and€defame€plaintiff.ðð€ÏFinally,€Moman€alleges€that€the€second€article€is€also€defamatory.€€On€July€14,Ï1989,€the€defendants€filed€an€answer€that€denied€the€material€allegations€of€theÏcomplaint.€€Ìà àDuring€his€deposition,€Lyons,€the€author€of€the€first€allegedly€defamatoryÍarticle,€refused€to€answer€questions€concerning€the€source€of€anonymousÏstatements€in€the€article.€€Lyons€relied€on€T.C.A.€ðð€24„1„208(a)€(Supp.€1996),Ïwhich€provides€that€a€member€of€the€press€is€not€required€to€disclose€theÏsource€of€any€information€procured€for€publication€or€broadcast.€€On€March€6,Ï1996,€Moman€filed€a€Motion€to€Compel€Discovery€to€require€Lyons€to€answerÏthe€questions.€€Moman€relied€on€T.C.A.€ðð€24„1„208(b),€which€provides€thatÏT.C.A.€ðð€24„1„208(a)€does€not€apply€with€respect€to€the€source€of€any€allegedÏdefamatory€statement€where€a€defense€is€based€on€the€source€of€theÏinformation.€€The€trial€judge€denied€Momanððs€Motion€to€Compel€Discovery.€Ìà àOn€February€28,€1996,€the€defendants€filed€a€Motion€for€SummaryÏJudgment€claiming€that€there€were€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€thatÏthey€were€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€On€May€31,€1996,€the€trialÏcourt€entered€an€order€granting€the€defendantsðð€motion.€€Ìà àMoman€has€perfected€this€appeal€and€presents€two€issues€for€our€review:€Ï1)€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€his€Motion€to€Compel€Discovery,Ïand€2)€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€summary€judgment€to€theÏdefendants.€€à àIn€the€first€issue,€Moman€argues€that€the€trial€court€should€haveÏapplied€the€€statutory€exception€to€the€ð ðShield€Statute.ðð€€Lyons€refused€toÏanswer€questions€during€his€deposition€because€he€did€not€want€to€disclose€theÍidentity€of€his€sources.€€He€based€his€refusal€on€T.C.A.€ðð€24„1„208(a)€(Supp.Ï1996),€which€provides:€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àA€person€engaged€in€gathering€information€forÏpublication€or€broadcast€connected€with€or€employedÏby€the€news€media€or€press,€or€who€is€independentlyÏengaged€in€gathering€information€for€publication€orÏbroadcast,€shall€not€be€required€by€a€court,€a€grandÏjury,€the€general€assembly,€or€any€administrative€body,Ïto€disclose€before€the€general€assembly€or€anyÏTennessee€court,€grand€jury,€agency,€department,€orÏcommission€any€information€or€the€source€of€anyÏinformation€procured€for€publication€or€broadcast.ÌÌÓÓHowever,€Moman€relies€on€the€exception€in€the€statute,€T.C.A.€ðð€24„1„208(b),Ïwhich€provides€that€ð ðSubsection€(a)€shall€not€apply€with€respect€to€the€sourceÏof€any€allegedly€defamatory€information€in€any€case€where€the€defendant€in€aÏcivil€action€for€defamation€asserts€a€defense€based€on€the€source€of€suchÏinformation.ððòòÌóóà àThe€procedure€to€be€followed€when€source€information€is€refused€is€setÏout€in€T.C.A.€ðð€24„1„208€(c)€(Supp.€1996)€which,€as€pertinent,€provides:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à(c)(1)€any€person€seeking€information€or€the€sourceÏthereof€protected€under€this€section€may€apply€for€anÏorder€divesting€such€protection.€€Such€applicationÏshall€be€made€to€the€judge€of€the€court€havingÏjurisdiction€over€the€hearing,€action€or€otherÏproceeding€in€which€the€information€sought€isÏpending.ÌÌà8 àà8 à(2)€The€application€shall€be€granted€only€if€the€courtÍafter€hearing€the€parties€determines€that€the€personÏseeking€the€information€has€shown€by€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence€that:ÌÌà8 àà8 à(A)€There€is€probable€cause€to€believe€that€the€personÏfrom€whom€the€information€is€sought€has€informationÏwhich€is€clearly€relevant€to€a€specific€probableÏviolation€of€law;ÌÌà8 àà8 à(B)€The€person€has€demonstrated€that€theÏinformation€sought€cannot€reasonably€be€obtained€byÏalternative€means;€andÌÌà8 àà8 à(C)€The€person€has€demonstrated€a€compelling€andÏoverriding€public€interest€of€the€people€of€the€state€ofÏTennessee€in€the€information.ÌÌÓÓà àThe€record€does€not€contain€a€transcript€or€statement€of€the€evidence€ofÏthe€€hearing€provided€for€in€T.C.A.€ðð€24„1„208€(c).€€In€the€absence€of€a€record€ofÏthe€hearing,€we€must€presume€that€the€evidence€supports€the€ruling€of€the€trialÏcourt.€€ò òòòScarbrough€v.€Scarbroughó óóó,€752€S.W.2d€94€(Tenn.€1988);€ò òòòDavid€v.ÏMetropolitan€Govððt€of€Nashvilleó óóó€ò òòòand€Davidson€Countyó óóó,€696€S.W.2d€8€(Tenn.ÏApp.€1985).Ìà àAs€to€the€second€issue,€Moman€claims€that€the€statements€in€the€articlesÏwere€lies€that€were€published€with€malice€or€reckless€disregard€for€their€truth€orÏfalsity.€€While€the€defendants€admit€that€the€tone€of€the€article€was€unflatteringÏand€negative€toward€Moman,€they€claim€that€the€statements€were€either€notÏdefamatory€as€a€matter€of€law,€protected€opinion,€or€substantially€true.ÌÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÓÓÓÓà àA€trial€court€should€grant€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€only€if€theÏmovant€demonstrates€that€there€are€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€thatÏthe€moving€party€is€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.Ï56.03;€€ò òòòByrd€v.€Hallóóó ó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.€1993);€òòò òDunn€v.€Hackettó óóó,€833ÏS.W.2d€78,€80€(Tenn.€App.€1992).€€The€party€moving€for€summary€judgmentÏbears€the€burden€of€demonstrating€that€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€exists.€òòò òÏByrdó óóó,€847€S.W.2d€at€210.€€On€a€motion€for€summary€judgment,€the€court€mustÏÑ ° Ñconsider€the€motion€in€the€same€manner€as€a€motion€for€directed€verdict€madeÏat€the€close€of€the€plaintiff's€proof;€that€is,€"the€court€must€take€the€strongestÏlegitimate€view€of€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€nonmoving€party,€allow€allÏreasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€that€party,€and€discard€all€countervailingÏevidence."€òòò ò€Idó óóó.€at€210„11.€ÓÓÌÌÓÓà àFor€a€communication€to€be€libelous,€it€must€constitute€a€serious€threatÏto€the€plaintiff's€reputation.€€A€libel€does€not€occur€simply€because€the€subjectÏof€a€publication€finds€the€publication€annoying,€offensive,€or€embarrassing.€€TheÏwords€must€reasonably€be€construable€as€holding€the€plaintiff€up€to€publicÏhatred,€contempt,€or€ridicule.€€They€must€carry€with€them€an€element€"ofÏdisgrace."€€ò òòòStones€River€Motors,€Inc.€v.€Mid„South€Publððg€Co.óóó ó,€651€S.W.2d€713,Ï719€(Tenn.€App.€1983)€(quoting€W.€Prosser,€Law€of€Torts,€ðð€111,€at€739€(4thÍEd.€1971)).€€In€determining€whether€the€published€words€are€reasonably€capableÏof€such€a€meaning,€the€courts€must€look€to€the€words€themselves€and€are€notÏbound€by€the€plaintiff's€interpretation€of€them.€€If€the€words€are€not€reasonablyÏcapable€of€the€meaning€the€plaintiff€ascribes€to€them,€the€court€must€disregardÏthe€latter€interpretation.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€€Ìà àThe€damaging€words€must€be€factually€false.€€If€they€are€true,€orÏessentially€true,€they€are€not€actionable,€even€though€the€published€statementÏcontains€other€inaccuracies€that€are€not€damaging.€€Thus,€the€defense€of€truthÏapplies€so€long€as€the€"sting"€(or€injurious€part)€of€the€statement€is€true.€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€ÏThe€proper€question€is€whether€the€òòmeaningóó€reasonably€conveyed€by€theÏpublished€words€is€defamatory,€that€is,€ð ðwhether€the€libel€as€published€wouldÏhave€a€different€effect€on€the€mind€of€the€reader€from€that€which€the€pleadedÏtruth€would€have€produced.ðð€€ò òòòMemphis€Publððg€Co.€v.€Nicholsó óóó,€569€S.W.2d€412,Ï420€(Tenn.€1978)€(quoting€ò òòòFleckenstein€v.€Friedmanóóó ó,€193€N.E.€537,€538€(N.Y.Ï1937)).€€Truth€is€available€as€an€absolute€defense€only€when€the€defamatoryÏmeaning€conveyed€by€the€words€is€true.€€ò òòòIdó óóó.€€ÌÑ ° Ñà àBecause€the€statement€must€be€factually€false€in€order€to€be€actionable,Ïcomments€upon€or€characterizations€of€published€facts€are€not€in€themselvesÏactionable.€€If€the€published€facts€being€commented€upon€are€true€andÍnondefamatory,€the€writer's€comments€upon€them€are€not€actionable,€evenÏthough€they€are€stated€in€strong€or€abusive€terms.€€This€principle€has€been€givenÏconstitutional€protection€under€the€First€Amendment€by€the€United€StatesÏSupreme€Court.€€òòò òGreenbelt€Coop.€Publððg€Assððn.€v.€Bresleró óóó,€398€U.S.€6,€90€S.€Ct.Ï1537,€26€L.€Ed.€2d€6€(1970);€€òòò òOld€Dominion€Branch€No.€496€v.€Austinó óóó,€418ÏU.S.€264,€94€S.€Ct.€2770,€41€L.€Ed.€2d€745€(1974).€€Ìà àIn€òòò òStones€River€Motorsó óóó,€this€Court€discussed€the€United€States€SupremeÏCourtððs€rulings€in€ò òòòGreenbeltó óóó,òòò ò€Old€Dominion€Branchó óóó,€and€ò òòòGertz€v.€Robert€Welch,ÏInc.ó óóó,€418€U.S.€323,€94€S.€Ct.€2997,€41€L.€Ed.€2d€789€(1974):ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àThe€holdings€in€òòò òGreenbeltó óóó,€òòò òOld€Dominionó óóó€and€òòò òGertzó óóóÏtogether€are€regarded€by€the€ALI€as€having€the€effectÏof€holding€that€the€First€Amendment€will€not€permitÏrecovery€in€defamation€for€a€statement€which€is€theÏmere€expression€of€an€opinion€and€which€does€notÏassert€by€implication€the€existence€of€underlying€false,Ïdefamatory€facts.€€Restatement€(Second)€of€Torts€ððÏ566€comment€c€(1977).€€In€other€words,€it€is€now€aÏmatter€of€constitutional€law,€that€statements€ofÏopinion€or€characterizations€based€upon€disclosedÏnondefamatory€facts€are€not€defamatory€even€thoughÏthey€are€stated€in€strong€or€abusive€terms.€.€.€.€TheÏthrust€of€these€authorities€is€that€an€opinion€is€notÏactionable€as€libel€unless€it€implies€the€existence€ofÏunstated€defamatory€facts.€€€As€long€as€the€true€factsÏon€which€the€opinion€is€based€are€published,€theÏopinion€itself€is€not€actionable.Ìòòò òÌStones€River€Motorsó óóó,€651€S.W.2d€at€721„22.€ÌÌÓÓà àIn€ò òòòMilkovich€v.€Lorain€Journal€Co.ó óóó,€497€U.S.€1,€110€S.€Ct.€2695,€111€L.ÏEd.€2d€1€(1990),€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€analyzed€the€constitutionalÏprotection€afforded€to€an€opinion.€€The€Court€first€said€that€there€was€not€ð ðaÏwholesale€defamation€exception€for€anything€that€might€be€labeled€ððopinion.ððððÏò òòòId.ó óóó€at€18,€110€S.€Ct.€at€2705.€€The€Court€then€discussed€the€controlling€caseÏlaw× ƒ2 ××  ×:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà àForemost,€we€think€ò òòòHeppsó óóó€stands€for€theÏproposition€that€a€statement€on€matters€of€publicÏconcern€must€be€provable€as€false€before€there€can€beÏliability€under€state€defamation€law,€at€least€in€casesÏlike€the€present€where€a€media€defendant€is€involved.€.Ï.€.€ò òòòHeppsó óóóensures€that€a€statement€of€opinion€relatingÏto€matters€of€public€concern€which€does€not€contain€aÏprovably€false€factual€connotation€will€receive€fullÏconstitutional€protection.Ìà8 àà8 àà àNext,€the€ò òòòBresler„Letter€Carriers„Falwelló óóó€line€ofÏcases€provides€protection€for€statements€that€cannotÏð ðreasonably€[be]€interpreted€as€stating€actual€factsððÏabout€an€individual.€€This€provides€assurance€thatÏpublic€debate€will€not€suffer€for€lack€of€ð ðimaginativeÏexpressionðð€or€the€ð ðrhetorical€hyperboleðð€which€hasÏtraditionally€added€much€to€the€discourse€of€ourÏNation.€€Ìà8 àà8 àà àThe€ò òòòNew€York€Times„Butts„Gertzó óóó€culpabilityÏrequirements€further€ensure€that€debate€on€publicÏissues€remains€ð ðuninhibited,€robust,€and€wide„open.ðð€ÏThus,€where€a€statement€of€ð ðopinionðð€on€a€matter€ofÏpublic€concern€reasonably€implies€false€andÏdefamatory€facts€regarding€public€figures€or€officials,Ïthose€individuals€must€show€that€such€statementsÏwere€made€with€knowledge€of€their€false€implicationsÏor€with€reckless€disregard€for€the€truth.ÌÌò òòòÓÓMilkovichóóó ó,€497€U.S.€at€19„20,€110€S.€Ct.€at€2706„07€(citations€omitted).€€TheÏCourt€then€concluded:€€ð ðWe€are€not€persuaded€that,€in€addition€to€theseÏprotections,€an€additional€separate€constitutional€privilege€for€ððopinionðð€isÏrequired€to€ensure€the€freedom€of€expression€guaranteed€by€the€FirstÏAmendment.ðð€€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€at€20,€110€S.€Ct.€at€2707.Ìà àMoman€first€alleges€that€the€caricature€appearing€both€on€the€cover€andÏwithin€the€first€article€is€defamatory€and€portrays€him€in€a€ð ðdemeaning€andÏderogatory€way.ðð€€The€caricature€is€a€picture€of€Moman€waving€ð ðgoodbyeðð€as€heÏis€crossing€a€bridge€that€leads€from€Memphis€to€Nashville.€€He€has€recordsÏunder€one€arm€and€money€stuffed€in€two€of€his€pockets.€€Finally,€it€appears€as€ifÏthe€bridge€is€burning€behind€him€as€he€leaves€Memphis.€€The€title€of€the€articleÏis€ð ðGoodbye,€Mr.€Chips,ðð€with€an€accompanying€sub„title€of€ð ðThe€City€FathersÏbrought€him€back€to€save€Memphis€music.€€But€will€Chips€Moman€just€take€theÏmoney€and€run?ððÌà àIn€ò òòòHustler€Magazine€v.€Falwellóóó ó,€485€U.S.€46,€108€S.€Ct.€876,€99€L.€Ed.€2dÏ41€(1988),€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€discussed€caricatures€and€politicalÏcartoons:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àThe€appeal€of€the€political€cartoon€or€caricature€isÏoften€based€on€exploitation€of€unfortunate€physicalÏtraits€or€politically€embarrassing€events„„anÏexploitation€often€calculated€to€injure€the€feelings€ofÏthe€subject€of€the€portrayal.€€The€art€of€the€cartoonistÏis€often€not€reasoned€or€even„handed,€but€slashing€andÏone„sided.€€One€cartoonist€expressed€the€nature€of€theÏart€in€these€words:Ìà8 àà8 àà àð ðThe€political€cartoon€is€a€weapon€of€attack,€ofÏscorn€and€ridicule€and€satire;€it€is€least€effective€whenÏit€tries€to€pat€some€politician€on€the€back.€€It€isÏusually€as€welcome€as€a€bee€sting€and€is€alwaysÏcontroversial€in€some€quarters.ðð€€Long,€The€PoliticalÏCartoon:€€Journalismððs€Strongest€Weapon,€The€QuillÏ56,€57€(Nov.€1962).ÌÌÓÓò òòòId.ó óóó€at€54,€108€S.€Ct.€at€881.€€The€Court€accepted€the€lower€courtððs€findings€thatÏthe€cartoon€was€ð ðnot€reasonably€believable.ðð€€òòò òId.óóó ó€at€57,€108€S.€Ct.€at€882„83.€ÏThe€Court€felt€speech,€including€cartoons,€should€be€protected€when€that€speechÏð ðcould€not€reasonably€have€been€interpreted€as€stating€actual€facts€about€theÏpublic€figure€involved.ððò òòò€€Idóóó ó.€at€50,€108€S.€Ct.€at€879.Ìà àIn€the€case€before€us,€we€believe€that€the€caricature,€in€conjunction€withÏthe€title€and€the€article€itself,€could€be€interpreted€as€stating€actual€facts€aboutÏMoman.€€The€article€clearly€implies€that€Moman€took€public€money€and€leftÍtown.€€The€caricature€is€not€a€parody€of€Moman.€€We€believe€that€it€is€capableÏof€a€defamatory€meaning€and€can€reasonably€be€understood€to€imply€thatÏMoman€took€money€from€the€public€in€Memphis€and€moved€to€Nashville.Ìà àIn€their€briefs€and€at€oral€argument,€the€parties€discussed€each€allegedÏdefamatory€statement€in€the€article€separately.€€Therefore,€we€will€also€examineÏeach€statement€in€order.€€However,€we€will€consider€each€statement€in€contextÏwith€its€paragraph€and€the€entire€article.€€Moman€alleges€that€the€first€òòFlyeróóÏarticle€contains€twenty„three€defamatory€statements.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à1.€€ð ðSo€why€did€we€spend€our€money€on€ChipsÏMoman?€€And€what€did€we€get€for€it?€€The€answer,Ïsome€say,€is€ððnot€much.ððððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€claims€that€the€whole€premise€that€it€was€public€money,€ð ðourÏmoney,ðð€is€false,€and€he€argues€that€the€representation€that€the€public€did€notÏget€much€for€its€money€demonstrates€an€obvious€contested€issue€of€fact.€ÏMoman€claims€that€all€of€the€money€involved€was€either€his€own€money€orÏmoney€he€borrowed€from€First€Tennessee€Bank.€€Lyons€claims€that€ð ðour€moneyððÏrefers€to€the€lost€revenue€to€the€city€because€of€the€tax€freeze€and€the€$1€perÏyear€rent.€€Moman€in€turn€argues€that€the€ð ðtax€freezeðð€was€in€place€before€heÏmoved€into€the€building€because€the€city€owns€the€property€and€that€the€$1€perÏyear€rent€was€in€consideration€for€refurbishing€the€building.Ìà àA€ð ðtax€breakðð€is€a€fairly€common€practice€used€by€local€governments€toÏattract€industry€to€the€local€community.€€For€example,€the€article€refers€to€taxÏbreaks€for€International€Paper€and€Sharp€Manufacturing.€€We€believe€that€it€isÏundisputed€that€Moman€received€some€incentive€from€the€local€governmentÏ(and,€therefore,€the€public)€to€move€to€Memphis.€€It€is€also€undisputed€that€3ÏAlarm€Studio€was€not€a€financial€success€and€that€Moman€declared€bankruptcy.Ìà àHowever,€the€article€is€somewhat€misleading.€€It€implies€that€MomanÏreceived€public€funds,€namely€$720,000.00,€to€fund€his€project,€while,€in€truth,Ïhe€borrowed€that€amount€from€First€Tennessee€Bank.€€In€context€of€the€entireÏarticle,€coupled€with€the€sub„title€ð ðBut€will€Chips€Moman€just€take€the€moneyÏand€run?ðð€and€the€caricature€showing€him€leaving€Memphis€for€Nashville€withÏmoney€in€his€pockets,€this€statement€is€capable€of€a€defamatory€meaningÏbecause€it€implies€that€Moman€took€public€money€and€gave€Memphis€nothingÏin€return.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à2.€€ð ðAnd€the€trademark€chart„toppers€were€gettingÏfarther€and€farther€apart.€€The€Memphis€heyday€wasÏlong€past.ððÌà àÌÓÓà àMoman€claims€that€the€nature€of€the€music€industry€has€changed€sinceÏhis€time€in€Memphis€during€the€1960s.€€At€that€time,€records€were€all€singles,Ïbut€currently,€records€are€released€as€albums€that€contain€ten€or€more€singles.€ÍMoman€claims€that€the€statement€is€false€because€an€album€may€only€contain€aÏfew€hit€songs,€and€therefore,€it€is€harder€to€release€as€many€chart„toppers.€€HeÏargues€that€one€hit€album€is€equivalent€to€five€gold€singles,€and€that€since€oneÏcan€only€cut€about€four€albums€per€year,€the€equivalent€in€todayððs€industry€isÏabout€twenty€hit€singles€per€year.€€He€asserts€that€his€career€has€not€changedÏand€that€it€has€not€gone€down€hill.Ìà àWe€believe€that€this€statement,€even€in€context€with€the€entire€article,€isÏnot€capable€of€a€defamatory€meaning€because€it€does€not€hold€Moman€ð ðup€toÏpublic€hatred,€contempt€or€ridicule.ðð€€ò òòòStones€River€Motorsóóó ó,€651€S.W.2d€at€719.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à3.€€ð ðBut€maybe€the€rumors€floating€down€I„40€fromÏNashville€were€true„„that€Chips€had€shortchanged€oneÏmusician€too€many€and€was€tired€of€doing€business€onÏa€cash„and„carry€basis.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€denied€that€he€had€shortchanged€any€musicians€and€stated€thatÏhe€had€never€heard€any€rumors€about€his€financial€dealings€with€musicians.€ÏLyons€refused€to€disclose€the€source€of€the€rumors.€€Moman€argues€that€aÏmaterial€issue€exists€regarding€whether€or€not€there€were€any€rumors.€€WeÏagree.€€We€believe€that€this€statement€is€capable€of€a€defamatory€meaningÏbecause€it€implies€that€Moman€cheated€musicians€and€ran€a€quick€and€dirtyÏoperation.€€The€defendants€claim€that€the€statement€is€clearly€not€a€statementÏof€fact€and€that€it€is€not€asserted€to€be€true.€€However,€it€implies€the€existenceÍof€underlying€defamatory€facts€and,€therefore,€is€capable€of€a€defamatoryÏmeaning.€€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à4.€€ð ðHe€wanted€to€come€to€Memphis,€but€they€had€toÏsell€him€on€the€idea?€€Some€observers€have€suggestedÏthat€Chips€simply€wanted€to€be€òòbeggedóó€and€that€theÏððinterviewðð€was€just€a€plant€to€get€things€rolling.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€claims€that€this€is€a€false€statement€and€a€blatant€lie.€€TheÏdefendants€claim€that€the€first€part€of€the€statement€is€a€question€and,Ïtherefore,€cannot€be€a€false€statement€of€fact€and€that€the€second€part€of€theÏstatement€is€the€authorððs€opinion€and€is€not€capable€of€being€proved€true€orÏfalse.€€Moman€argues€that€a€quotation€from€some€unknown,€unnamed€observer,Ïbased€upon€false€facts,€does€not€qualify€as€a€non„defamatory€opinion.€€Ìà àWe€do€not€decide€if€the€statement€is€an€opinion€or€a€statement€of€factÏbecause€we€do€not€believe€that€it€is€capable€of€a€defamatory€meaning.€€NothingÏabout€this€statement€holds€Moman€up€to€public€ridicule€or€public€hatred.€Ìà àStatements€5,€6,€and€7€will€be€considered€together.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à5.€€ð ðBe€that€as€it€may,€it€didnððt€take€a€òòlotóó€of€begging,Ïjust€a€little.€€What€it€òòdidóó€take€was€a€lot€of€money„„$720,000€to€be€exact„„in€the€form€of€a€Center€CityÏCommission€revenue€bond€issue€which€was€bought€byÏFirst€Tennessee€Bank.ððÌÌà8 àà8 à6.€€ð ðIn€addition€to€the€$720,000€tax„free€mortgageÏloan€rumored€at€4€percent€(ððWho?ðð€asked€the€voiceÏwhen€we€phoned€First€Tennesseeððs€bond€department.ÍððChips€Moman?€€How€do€you€spell€that?€€Is€that€hereÏin€Memphis?ðð)€.€.€.€.ððÌÌà8 àà8 à7.€€ð ðEven€with€the€current€tax€assessment€fiasco,€itÏwas€a€helluva€deal.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€claims€that€the€article€implies€that€he€took€the€money€and€ranÏwith€it.€€Moman€argues€that€these€are€factual€statements€that€would€lead€anyÏreasonable€reader€to€believe€that€he€had€taken€advantage€of€the€Center€CityÏCommission€and€not€only€had€failed€to€use€the€money€as€intended,€but€wasÏleaving€town€with€it.€€He€claims€that€the€statements€are€factually€incorrectÏbecause€the€money€was€a€loan€from€First€Tennessee€Bank€at€10.5%€interest,€notÏ4%.€€Finally,€he€claims€that€this€was€the€worst€deal€of€his€life.Ìà àWe€believe,€that€even€with€the€minor€factual€inaccuracies,€theseÏstatements€are€not€capable€of€a€defamatory€meaning.€€None€of€these€statementsÏimplies€that€he€used€the€money€in€any€improper€way€or€that€he€left€town€withÏit.€€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à8.€€ð ðPretty€heady€company€for€a€guy€with€anÏanswering€service€who€produces€just€three€or€fourÏalbums€a€year.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€claims€that€this€statement€is€a€lie€because€he€did€not€have€just€anÏanswering€service.€€The€defendants€argue€that€the€first€part€of€the€statement€isÏprotected€opinion€when€viewed€in€context€with€the€preceding€paragraph€thatÍtalked€about€tax€incentives€for€Sharp€Manufacturing€and€International€Paper.€Ìà àWe€believe€that€ð ðpretty€heady€companyðð€is€protected€opinion€based€onÏthe€disclosed€non„defamatory€facts€that€Sharp€Manufacturing€and€InternationalÏPaper€also€received€tax€breaks.€€Ìà àIn€addition,€Moman€argues€that€the€statement€shows€a€lack€ofÏunderstanding€of€the€recording€industry€because€four€albums€a€year€is€a€lot€ofÏwork€and€that€he€did€produce€more€than€four€albums€per€year€in€Memphis.€ÏHowever,€we€do€not€believe€that€this€statement€is€capable€of€a€defamatoryÏmeaning,€especially€in€context€with€the€preceding€paragraph.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à9.€€ð ðTheir€first€album,€òòClass€of€'55óó,€recorded€in€1986,Ïwas€so€bad€that€òòUSA€Todayóó€ranked€it€as€one€of€5Ïworst€albums€of€the€year.€€And€things€got€worse€fromÏthere.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€did€not€even€argue€about€this€statement€in€his€brief€or€at€oralÏargument.€€It€is€uncontroverted€that€òòUSA€Todayóó€ranked€Momanððs€album€as€oneÏof€the€ð ð5€worstðð€of€the€year.€€That€statement€is€true,€and€therefore,€is€notÏactionable.€€We€believe€that€the€remaining€portion€of€the€statement€is€theÏauthorððs€opinion€about€Momanððs€America€Records€venture.€€The€opinion€thatÏð ðthings€got€worseðð€is€based€on€disclosed€non„defamatory€facts€concerning€theÏinvestors€in€America€Records.€ÓÓÌÌà8 àà8 à10.€€ð ðStill,€Moman€allowed€himself€to€be€portrayed€asÍa€savior.€€He€never€stood€up€and€said€he€òòcouldnððtóó€beÏone.€€Nor€did€anyone€else.€€And€that„„along€with€theÏaccompanying€financial€dealings€with€the€city„„stillÏcauses€hackles€to€rise€in€the€local€music€industry€whenÏthe€words€ððMomanðð€and€ððmoneyðð€are€used€in€the€sameÏbreath.ððÌÌÓÓà àOnce€again,€Moman€argues€that€the€whole€theme€of€the€article€is€that€heÏtook€public€money€and€ran€and€that€this€statement€is€part€of€that€theme.€€TheÏdefendants€argue€that€the€thrust€of€these€statements€amounts€to€rhetoricalÏhyperbole€or€to€opinion€based€on€disclosed€non„defamatory€facts€in€the€articleÏconcerning€the€cityððs€financial€arrangements€with€Moman.€€We€agree€that€theseÏstatements,€standing€alone,€do€not€amount€to€defamation.€€However,€taken€inÏcontext€of€the€entire€article,€the€meaning€reasonably€conveyed€by€the€publishedÏwords€could€be€defamatory€because€the€words€imply€public€distrust€of€MomanÏbecause€he€took€public€money.€€€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à11.€€ð ðððThis€industry„„the€music€industry„„is€money,Ïpower,€and€politics.€€And€Chips€has€all€three.€€He€hasÏthose€national€connections.€€He€can€hurt€people.€ÏEverybodyððs€real€nervous€about€saying€anythingÏbecause€Chips€is€so€vindictive.€€He€gets€pissed€off€realÏeasy.ððððÌÌÓÓà àAlthough€Moman€admitted€that€there€were€often€heated€arguments€inÏthe€recording€industry,€he€denied€the€characterizations€of€these€statments.€€InÏhis€deposition,€Moman€admitted€that€he€doesnððt€ð ðturn€the€other€cheekðð€andÍthat€after€an€altercation€the€other€person€ð ðknows€it€has€occurred,ðð€but€heÏclaimed€to€be€a€ð ðlaid€backðð€person.€€The€defendants€claim€that€these€statementsÏare€true€or€are€opinion€based€on€disclosed€facts.Ìà àThese€statements€are€a€quote€from€a€ð ðlocal€promoter€who,€typically,€asksÏnot€to€be€named.ðð€€In€his€deposition,€Lyons€refused€to€disclose€the€name€of€theÏpromoter.€€We€believe€that€these€statements€are€merely€the€opinion€of€theÏunnamed€promoter,€and€they€do€not€imply€the€existence€of€undisclosed€falseÏand€defamatory€facts.€€In€addition,€the€statements€appear€to€be€substantiallyÏtrue.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à12.€€ð ðAs€if€that€werenððt€bad€enough,€Moman€recordedÏthe€ill„fated€òòClass€of€'55óó€album€using€musicians€andÏtechnical€people€largely€recruited€from€Nashville,€inÏeffect€stuffing€Memphis€money€into€the€pockets€ofÏout„of„town€musicians.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€stated€that€he€used€many€Memphis€musicians€when€he€wasÏrecording€in€Memphis,€sometimes€as€many€as€three€to€four€times€the€number€ofÏNashville€musicians.€€However,€he€did€use€a€large€number€of€Nashville€musiciansÏto€record€his€albums.€€He€has€a€band€that€has€been€with€him€for€30€years,€andÏsome€of€the€band€members€live€in€Nashville.€€Moman€stated€that€he€finished€theÏrecords€using€Memphis€musicians.Ìà àBecause€he€did€use€a€number€of€out„of„town€musicians€while€in€Memphis,Íwe€believe€that€this€statement€is€substantially€true.€€Moman€argues€that€theÏcrux€of€this€statement€is€the€misuse€of€money.€€However,€because€it€isÏsubstantially€true,€it€is€not€actionable.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à13.€€ð ðRip„off€or€not,€it€certainly€didnððt€help€theirÏefforts€to€find€sorely„needed€investors,€who€were€madeÏeven€more€than€usually€gun„shy€by€the€AmericaÏRecords€fiasco.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€once€again€claims€that€the€charge€of€ð ðrip„offðð€is€defamatoryÏcoupled€with€the€paragraphs€about€the€misuse€of€money.€€The€defendants€claimÏit€is€a€combination€of€rhetorical€hyperbole€and€opinion.€€We€believe€that€it€is€aÏnon„actionable€characterization€of€the€facts€concerning€using€NashvilleÏmusicians€on€the€òòClass€of€ðð55óó€album.€€In€ò òòòStones€River€Motorsóóó ó,€this€Court€said,Ïð ðThe€comments€and€characterizations€involved€here,€such€as€ððpure€highwayÏrobberyðð€and€ððrip„off,ðð€fit€precisely€the€rationale€of€ò òòòGreenbeltóóó ó,€ò òòòOld€Dominionóóó ó€andÏðð€566€of€the€òòRestatementóó.€€These€are€clearly€characterizations€of€the€facts€setÏforth€in€the€letter,€and€do€not€imply€the€existence€of€undisclosed€defamatoryÏfacts.ðð€€ò òòòStones€River€Motorsóóó ó,€651€S.W.2d€at€722.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à14.€€ð ðMoman€proceeded€to€sign€as€many€as€tenÏsongwriters€to€contracts,€but€never€used€the€materialÏthey€produced.€€He€also€signed€Reba€and€TheÏPortables€to€an€exclusive€contract€and€sat€on€òòthemóó.ððÓÓÌÓÓà8 àà8 à15.€€ð ðððAll€that€time€and€energy€Reba€and€TheÏPortables€put€into€their€project„„he€just€flushed€it,ððÍanother€anonymous€promoter€says.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€claims€that€these€statements€are€false€because€he€could€notÏrelease€the€Reba€and€The€Portables€album€that€he€produced€because€someoneÏelse€claimed€an€economic€interest€in€that€recording.€€Moman€stated€that€he€hadÏan€offer€from€CBS€to€release€the€album,€but€that€it€did€not€materialize€becauseÏof€the€competing€interest.€€Although€the€statement€may€misstate€the€facts€or€beÏfalse,€we€do€not€believe€it€is€actionable€as€defamation.€€The€words€are€notÏreasonably€construable€as€holding€Moman€up€to€public€hatred,€contempt,€orÏridicule.€€ò òòòStones€River€Motorsó óóó,€651€S.W.2d€at€719.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à16.€€ð ðAnd€there€were€other€problems:€€MomanððsÏaloofness,€his€refusal€to€be€associated€with€or€getÏinvolved€in€local€projects,€his€criticism€of€localÏorganizing€efforts„„none€of€which€endeared€him€to€theÏlocals.ððÌÌÓÓà àIn€his€deposition,€Moman€admitted€that€he€does€not€go€out€in€publicÏbecause€he€does€not€want€to€come€home€every€time€with€a€pocketful€of€tapes€ofÏpotential€artists.€€However,€he€stated€that€he€did€not€refuse€to€be€associated€orÏto€get€involved€with€local€projects€and€that€the€statement€was€a€lie.€€He€claimsÏthat€a€material€issue€of€fact€arises€because€he€classifies€the€statement€as€a€lie.€ÏWe€disagree.€€We€find€that€the€statement,€even€if€untrue,€is€not€capable€of€aÏdefamatory€meaning€as€a€matter€of€law.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à17.€€ð ðFirst,€thereððs€his€apparent€failure.€€If€the€cityÏfathers€and€First€Tennessee€Bank€hadnððt€put€all€ofÏtheir€eggs€in€one€basket€and€instead€had€put€one„tenthÏof€the€money,€effort,€and€publicity€into€the€existingÏstudios€.€.€.€.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€argues€once€again€that€ð ðthe€whole€thing€is€about€money€and€Mr.ÏMomanððs€escape€with€it,ðð€while€the€defendants€argue€that€this€statement€is€anÏopinion.€€We€see€nothing€in€this€statement€that€is€defamatory€about€Moman.€ÏIf€anything,€it€is€critical€of€Memphis€and€the€First€Tennessee€Bank.€€In€addition,Ïit€is€true€that€Momanððs€venture€in€Memphis€failed.€€€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à18.€€ð ðInstead,€they€say,€Moman€has€created€a€lot€ofÏlocal€disillusionment€about€public„sector€artsÏinvestments„„and€heððs€made€Memphis€the€laughingÏstock€of€Nashville.€€One€Nashville€promoter€reportedlyÏquipped€that€ððNashville€ran€him€out€of€town€andÏMemphis€welcomed€him€with€open€arms.ðð€€But€evenÏmore€embarrassing€was€the€Ringo€Starr€fiasco€which,Ïit€seems€in€retrospect,€was€the€third€and€final€cockððsÏcrow€for€the€erstwhile€messiah.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€testified€that€he€has€never€been€run€out€of€any€towns,€but€insteadÏhad€been€welcomed€to€towns.€€He€also€claims€that€the€Ringo€Starr€episode× ƒ3 ××  ×€wasÏnot€a€ð ðfiasco.ðð€€The€defendants€claim€that€ð ðlocal€disillusionment,ðð€ð ðlaughingÏstock,ðð€ð ðran€him€out€of€town,ðð€ð ðfiasco,ðð€and€ð ðfinal€cockððs€crow€for€the€erstwhileÍmessiahðð€are€all€rhetorical€hyperbole.€€We€again€find€that€nothing€in€theseÏstatements€gives€rise€to€a€claim€for€defamation.€€Moman€may€find€some€of€theÏlanguage€of€the€article€annoying€or€embarrassing,€but€that€does€not€state€a€causeÏof€action€for€libel€or€defamation.€€ò òòòStones€River€Motorsóóó ó,€651€S.W.2d€at€719.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à19.€€ð ðIt€came€as€no€surprise,€given€that€Moman€gaveÏthem€the€shaft,€so€to€speak,€that€no€one€else€from€theÏMemphis€music€scene„„outside€Chips€MomanÏProductions„„joined€in€his€rally€on€the€òòCAóó€lawn.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€claims€that€giving€somebody€ð ðthe€shaftðð€is€certainly€defamatory.€ÏHowever,€we€believe€that€this€is€the€type€of€rhetorical€hyperbole€or€vigorousÏepithet€discussed€in€ò òòòGreenbeltóóó ó,€398€U.S.€at€14,€90€S.€Ct.€at€1542.€€This€is€merelyÏthe€authorððs€characterization€of€Momanððs€activities€in€Memphis.€€TheÏexpression€deals€with€Momanððs€relationship€with€local€musicians,€not€with€anyÏallegations€of€improper€handing€of€the€publicððs€money.€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à20.€€ð ðWas€this€just€an€expensive€bait„and„switch?ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€argues€that€ð ðbait„and„switchðð€is€defamatory€in€the€context€ofÏtaking€advantage€of€the€financial€arrangements€and€would€lead€a€reasonableÏreader€to€infer€wrongdoing.€€The€defendants,€on€the€other€hand,€claim€that€it€isÏa€rhetorical€question.€€We€believe€that€this€is€a€non„actionable€rhetoricalÏquestion€that€is€not€capable€of€being€proved€false.€€The€words€are€not€factuallyÏfalse€and€do€not€contain€a€provably€false€factual€connotation.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à21.€€ð ð[T]here€are€indications€that€the€play€toy€mightÏsoon€be€changing€hands,€that€some€of€the€recordingÏequipment€is€already€being€carted€back€to€Nashville,Ïthat€Moman€has€been€spending€more€time€on€hisÏNashville€farm€than€he€has€in€Memphis.€€We€mightÏnot€have€Chips€Moman€to€kick€around€anymore.ððÌÌÓÓà àIn€these€statements,€the€play€toy€refers€to€Momanððs€3€Alarm€Studio.€ÏMoman€owns€an€old€U„Haul€truck€that€he€uses€to€haul€equipment€back€andÏforth€between€Memphis€and€Nashville.€€He€claims€that€the€statement€is€a€falseÏrepresentation€of€the€facts€because€he€routinely€moves€equipment.€€He€claimsÏthat€in€light€of€the€caricature€showing€him€leaving€Memphis,€this€statement€isÏdefamatory.€€However,€it€is€undisputed€that€Moman€sold€95%€of€the€stock€in€3ÏAlarm€Studio€and€that€he€currently€spends€most€of€his€time€in€Nashville.Ìà àAlthough€we€believe€that€the€statements€are€substantially€true,€we€alsoÏfind€that€they€are€not€capable€of€a€defamatory€meaning€because€they€do€notÏconstitute€a€serious€threat€to€Momanððs€reputation.€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à22.€€ð ðBut€if€he€is€once€again€pulling€up€his€tent€andÏdowsing€his€campfire,€it€fits€the€hopscotch€pattern€ofÏChips€Moman€Productions€over€the€last€20€years€orÏso.€€And€the€lease„purchase€option€on€3€Alarm€StudiosÏcomes€up€in€1990.€€Timing,€as€Chips€should€know,€isÏeverything.ððÌÌÓÓà àAlthough€Moman€stated€in€this€deposition€that€he€has€lived€in€Memphis,ÏNashville,€Florida,€and€Georgia€during€the€last€twenty€years,€he€claims€that€thisÍstatement€is€false€because€he€was€not€leaving€Memphis.€€However,€theÏstatement€does€not€say€that€he€is€leaving€Memphis,€it€merely€poses€thatÏhypothetical.€€In€addition,€it€is€true€that€the€option€to€purchase€the€building€atÏThird€and€BealeÑ€4ÑÇwas€in€effect€in€1990.€€We€believe€that€these€statements€are€not€defamatoryÏbecause€they€do€not€hold€Moman€up€to€public€ridicule€and€because€they€areÏsubstantially€true.ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à23.€€ð ðBut€the€next€time€the€city€fathers€go€looking€forÏa€savior,€they€might€check€his€arms€first.€€If€thereððs€aÏððBORN€TO€LOSEðð€tattoo€on€one€of€them,€maybe€theyÏshould€take€it€as€a€warning.ððÌÌÓÓà àMoman€does€have€a€ð ðBorn€To€Loseðð€tattoo€on€his€arm,€but€he€had€theÏtattoo€imprinted€on€his€arm€when€he€was€fourteen€years€old€after€he€ð ðbroke€upððÏwith€a€girl.€€ð ðBorn€to€Loseðð€is€a€Ray€Charles€song€and€was€Momanððs€favoriteÏsong€when€he€was€fourteen.€€Moman€argues€that€for€the€defendants€to€put€aÏdifferent€connotation€on€this€tattoo€ð ðshows€[their]€poison€and€hatred.ððÌà àThis€statement€was€the€last€sentence€of€the€first€article€and€is€theÏsummary€of€Lyonððs€opinion€of€Moman.€€We€believe€that€these€statements€areÏrhetorical€hyperbole€and€do€not€contain€a€provably€false€factual€connotation.€ÏTherefore,€they€are€protected€speech.Ìà àFinally,€Moman€alleges€that€the€second€òòFlyeróó€article€contains€defamatoryÏstatements€concerning€him.€€He€alleges€that€the€following€statements€areÏdefamatory:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àð ðOn€The€Road€Again:€€Our€April€6€cover€story€whichÏraised€the€question€of€whether€of€not€ò òChips€Momanó óÏwould€soon€be€leaving€town€(after€gathering€lots€ofÍmoney€and€tax€credits€and€doing€virtually€nothing€toÏhelp€save€the€music€industry€here€as€was€planned),Ïwasnððt€too€far€off€the€mark,€it€seems.€€Just€last€week,€aÏlarge€moving€truck€was€seen€backed€up€to€the€door€ofÏMomanððs€downtown€recording€studio€(the€purple€fireÏstation€on€Linden),€being€loaded€up€with€all€sorts€ofÏequipment.€€Could€he€indeed€be€heading€back€up€I„40?ððÌÌÓÓà àThe€parties€did€not€mention€or€argue€about€this€article€in€their€briefs€orÏat€oral€argument.€€However,€it€is€similar€to€statement€#21€above€because€itÏreferences€Momanððs€U„Haul€truck€and€a€possible€move€out€of€Memphis.€€OnceÏagain€we€believe€that€the€statement€is€substantially€true€and€also€does€not€poseÏa€threat€to€Momanððs€reputation.Ìà àIn€conclusion,€we€believe€that€statements€1,€3,€and€10€in€the€first€articleÏare€capable€of€a€defamatory€meaning€because€they€could€be€read€to€imply€thatÏMoman€mishandled€or€took€public€money€and€left€town.€€In€addition,€we€findÏthat€the€title€and€the€caricature,€in€context€with€the€entire€article,€are€alsoÏcapable€of€a€defamatory€meaning.€€Ìà àHowever,€this€in€not€the€end€of€the€inquiry.€€The€statements€are€still€notÏdefamatory€as€a€matter€of€law€unless€Moman€can€show€that€they€were€printedÏwith€the€requisite€degree€of€fault.€€There€is€no€dispute€in€this€case€that€MomanÏis€a€public€figure.€€Therefore,€he€has€a€substantial€burden€to€overcome.€€A€publicÏfigure€must€prove€that€the€libelous€statements€were€made€with€ð ðððactual€maliceðð„„that€is,€with€knowledge€that€it€was€false€or€with€reckless€disregard€of€whether€itÏwas€false€or€not.ðð€€ò òòòNew€York€Times€Co.€v.€Sullivanó óóó,€376€U.S.€at€279„80,€84€S.ÏCt.€at€726.€€In€òòò òTrigg€v.€Lakeway€Publishers,€Inc.ó óóó,€720€S.W.2d€69€(Tenn.€App.Ï1986),€this€Court€discussed€the€question€of€ð ðactual€maliceðð€in€the€face€of€aÏmotion€for€summary€judgment:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà àð ðA€public€figure€cannot€resist€a€newspaperððsÏmotion€for€summary€judgment€under€Rule€56€byÏarguing€that€there€is€an€issue€for€the€jury€as€to€maliceÏunless€he€makes€some€showing,€of€the€kindÏcontemplated€by€the€Rules,€of€facts€from€which€maliceÏmay€be€inferred.ððÌà8 àà8 àà àWhether€there€is€ð ðactual€maliceðð€is€a€properÏquestion€to€be€decided€on€a€motion€for€summaryÏjudgment.Ìà8 àà8 àà àOn€motion€for€summary€judgment€whereÏplaintiff,€as€in€this€case,€is€a€ð ðpublic€figure,ðð€it€isÏincumbent€upon€him€to€show€ð ðactual€maliceðð€withÏð ðconvincing€clarity.ððÌÌÓÓò òòòIdóóó ó.€at€74€(citations€omitted).€€This€Court€further€explained:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àPlaintiff€must€show€that€a€ð ðfalse€publication€was€madeÏwith€a€high€degree€of€awareness€of€.€.€.€probable€falsityÏ.€.€.€.€€There€must€be€sufficient€evidence€to€permit€theÏconclusion€that€the€defendant€in€fact€entertainedÏserious€doubts€as€to€the€truth€of€his€publication.€.€.€.ÏFailure€to€investigate€does€not€in€itself€establish€badÏfaith.ðð€ÌÌò òòòÓÓId.ó óóó€at€75€(quoting€ò òòòSt.€Amant€v.€Thompsonó óóó,€390€U.S.€727,€731„33,€88€S.€Ct.Ï1323,€1325„26,€20€L.€Ed.€2d€262,€267„68€(1968)).€€In€ò òòòPress,€Inc.€v.€Verranóóó ó,€569ÍS.W.2d€435€(Tenn.€1978),€the€Supreme€Court€of€Tennessee€adopted€theÏstandards€of€the€òòRestatement€(Second)€of€Torts€(1977)óó€as€the€law€in€this€state:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà à€ðð€580A.€€òòDefamation€of€Public€Official€or€PublicÏFigureóó.€€One€who€publishes€a€false€and€defamatoryÏcommunication€concerning€a€public€official€or€publicÏfigure€in€regard€to€his€conduct,€fitness€or€role€in€thatÏcapacity€is€subject€to€liability,€if,€but€only€if,€heÌà8 àà8 àà à(a)€knows€that€the€statement€is€false€and€that€itÏdefames€the€other€person,€orÌà8 àà8 àà à(b)€acts€in€reckless€disregard€of€these€matters.Ìà8 àà8 àà à*à àà àà à*à àà àà à*Ìà8 àà8 àà àWe€believe€that€these€standards€meet€theÏcriteria€of€our€federal€and€state€constitutions€and€weÏadopt€them€as€the€law€of€this€jurisdiction.ÌÌÓÓò òòòPress,€Inc.óóó ó,€569€S.W.2d€at€442.Ìà àIn€ò òòòSt.€Amantóóó ó,€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€explained€the€ò òòòNew€YorkÏTimes€Co.€v.€Sullivanó óóó€ð ðreckless€disregardðð€standard:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà à[R]eckless€conduct€is€not€measured€by€whetherÏa€reasonably€prudent€man€would€have€published,€orÏwould€have€investigated€before€publishing.€€ThereÏmust€be€sufficient€evidence€to€permit€the€conclusionÏthat€the€defendant€in€fact€entertained€serious€doubtsÏas€to€the€truth€of€his€publication.€€Publishing€withÏsuch€doubts€show€reckless€disregard€for€truth€orÏfalsity€and€demonstrates€actual€malice.Ìà8 àà8 àà àThe€defendant€in€a€defamation€action€broughtÏby€a€public€official€cannot,€however,€automaticallyÏinsure€a€favorable€verdict€by€testifying€that€theÏstatements€were€true.€€The€finder€of€fact€mustÏdetermine€whether€the€publication€was€indeed€madeÏin€good€faith.€€Professions€of€good€faith€will€beÏunlikely€to€prove€persuasive,€for€example,€where€aÍstory€is€fabricated€by€the€defendant,€is€the€product€ofÏhis€imagination,€or€is€based€wholly€on€an€unverifiedÏanonymous€phone€call.€€Nor€will€they€be€likely€toÏprevail€when€the€publisherððs€allegations€are€soÏinherently€improbable€that€only€a€reckless€man€wouldÏhave€put€them€in€circulation.€€Likewise,€recklessnessÏmay€be€found€where€there€are€obvious€reasons€toÏdoubt€the€veracity€of€the€informant€or€the€accuracy€ofÏhis€reports.òòÌÌòòò òÓÓóóSt.€Amantó óóó,€390€U.S.€at€731„32,€88€S.€Ct.€at€1325„26,€20€L.€Ed.€2d€at€267„68.Ìà àIn€his€deposition,€Lyons€answered€questions€concerning€the€truth€orÏfalsity€of€the€statements€in€the€article:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àQ:à àWell,€how€much€of€it€that€you€published€didÏyou€receive€or€did€you€think€was€true€and€how€muchÏdid€you€think€was€not€true?à àà àà àà àÌÌà8 àà8 àA:à àI€donððt€try€to€make€a€judgment€on€that.ÌÌà àà àà à*à àà à*à àà à*à àÌà8 àà8 àQ:à àAnything€in€that€article€that€you€wrote€that€youÏthought€when€you€wrote€it€was€not€true?ÌÌà8 àà8 àA:à àIt€is€not€my€prerogative€to€determine€what€isÏtrue€and€what€isnððt.ÌÌà àà àà à*à àà à*à àà à*Ìà8 àà8 àQ:à àWould€the€truth€or€falsity€of€the€informationÏenter€into€whether€or€not€it€is€newsworthy?ÌÌà8 àà8 àA:€€à àIf€I€understand€the€question€correctly,€I€donððtÏthink€that€the€truth€or€falsity€of€an€item€affects€itsÏnewsworthiness.€€It€would€be€newsworthy€either€Ìà8 àà8 àway.ÌÌà8 àà8 àQ:à àAre€you€saying€that€an€item€is€newsworthy,€inÏyour€opinion,€in€accordance€with€your€definition,€if€itÏis€false?ÌÌà8 àà8 àA:à àIt€would€certainly€be€raised.ÌÌà àà àà à*à àà à*à àà à*Ìà8 àà8 àQ:à àA€fact€known€to€you€to€be€false,€do€youÏconsider€that€newsworthy?Ìà8 àà8 àÌà8 àà8 àA:à àYes.ÌÌÓÓà àIt€seems€obvious€that€Lyons€did€not€care€whether€the€statements€heÏpublished€were€true€or€false.€€We€believe€that€this€shows€reckless€disregard€ofÏwhether€the€article€was€true€or€false.€€Ìà àBecause€the€caricature€and€statements€1,€3,€and€10€of€the€first€article€areÏcapable€of€a€defamatory€meaning,€we€hold€that€genuine€issues€of€material€factÏexist.€€The€order€of€the€trial€court€granting€summary€judgment€is€vacated,€andÏthe€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€such€other€proceedings€as€necessary.€ÏCosts€œÌÌof›€appeal€are€assessed€against€appellees.ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌó ó____________________________________Ìò òDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óÌÌò ò____________________________________ÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óœÔ€5ÔÔ€5Ô