ÿWPC+  …# VUNa %¯ 0(µU<Ýw@ 4Y m 0l| 0Dè , 0J4 0T~ 0^Ò 0h0 0r˜ 0| 0†† 0 1uœ U, 0d=U,¡ AMÍ B-7Âd€&U>¦B)äDC  AMP D3U*Ð 0XúãRv~5vÓ³ AO†ÆÕ 0D› D/ß B ˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman %[&'E()U*U+î,Ó€89;p‚ VPR0"03|x9((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  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)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco€-(Cþÿ << Gÿÿ d #Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌò òApril€29,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€+ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó ¸Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒThe€plaintiff€also€sues€Dr.€Patricio€Ilabaca€for€assault€andÏbattery€and€libel.€€Summary€judgment€was€granted€only€to€Whitworth,ÏIlabacaððs€lawyer,€and€the€judgment€was€made€final€pursuant€toÏTenn.R.Civ.P.€54.02.€€Ilabaca€is€not€a€party€to€this€appeal.Ì vÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÔ€ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒWhether€Whitworthððs€responses€to€questions€posed€by€theÏòòCommercial€Appealóó€violated€the€requirements€of€the€Code€ofÏProfessional€Responsibility€is€not€an€issue€before€this€Court.€€Ì< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d''''7Border 1dd€-(Cþÿ << Gÿÿ""""'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Arial(0"ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒÒ  ÒÒ  Ò ÙÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒIn€ò òòòJones€v.€Metropolitan€Government€of€Nashville€and€DavidsonÏCounty,ó óóó€No.€3„92„0151,€slip€op.€at€4€(M.D.€Tenn.€June€29,€1993),€Officer€Jeffrey€Goforth,Ïa€metro€police€officer,€conceded€that€he€was€a€public€figure€for€First€Amendment€purposes.€ÏThe€court€accepted€this€concession€without€comment.€ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  eskto Monaco ÒÒ  eskto Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€  X„d&ÓÑ#€  Xd#ÑÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÑ7€5XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌà àà à€€Ï________________________________________________ÌÌò òOWEN€SELBY,€ó óÌÌà àPlaintiff„Appellant,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àShelby€Law€No.€61864„TDÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€02A01„9503„CV„00058ÌÌò òßL€!#(;+'h|<ö` Å `€€LßDR.€PATRICIO€ILABACA€andÌGEORGE€WHITWORTH,ó óÌÌà àDefendants„Appellees.Ì___________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROMT€HE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€SHELBYÏCOUNTYÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€JAMES€E.€SWEARENGEN,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àDavid€M.€Sullivan€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€Plaintiff„AppellantÌÌà@ àTim€Edwards,€James€F.€Horner,€of€Glassman,€Ìà@ àJeter,€Edwards€&€Wade,€P.C.,€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€Defendant„Appellee,€WhitworthÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòAFFIRMEDó óóóÌÌà@ àOpinion€filed:€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òà àW.€FRANK€CRAWFORDó ó,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌÌÓÓ›Ñ7€5XXdìXXdì7Ñà àThis€is€a€libel€suit.€€Plaintiff,€Owen€Selby,€appeals€from€the€orderÏof€the€trial€court€granting€summary€judgment€to€defendant,€GeorgeÏWhitworth.œ× ƒ$ ××  ×›€€The€sole€issue€as€stated€in€plaintiffððs€brief€is:€ð ðWhetherÏthe€trial€court€erred€in€this€libel€action€by€finding€plaintiff€had€notÏshown€the€defendant€acted€with€œððactual›€œmaliceðð.ð𛀀€Ìà àAn€examination€of€the€pleadings,€depositions,€and€affidavits€filedÍin€the€cause€œreveals›€a€rather€bizarre€factual€scenario.€Officer€OwenÏSelby€is€assigned€to€the€Memphis€police€forceððs€motorcycle€squad,€aÏdivision€of€the€police€force€that€focuses€on€enforcing€motor€vehicleÏlaws.€€On€June€3,€1993,€Selby€stopped€Dr.€Patricio€Ilabaca€for€speedingÏon€Walnut€Grove€Road,€close€to€its€intersection€with€Mendenhall.€ÏAccording€to€Selby,€after€he€obtained€Ilabacaððs€license€and€walked€toÏthe€back€of€Ilabacaððs€car€to€fill€out€the€traffic€summons,€Ilabaca€exitedÏhis€car,€approached€Selby,€and€began€cursing€at€him.€€Selbyððs€complaintÏalleges€that€Ilabaca€grabbed€his€license€from€Selbyððs€hand,€pushedÏSelby,€and€began€to€get€back€into€his€[Ilabacaððs]€car.€€Selby€claims€thatÏhe€attempted€to€prevent€Ilabaca€from€getting€back€into€his€car€andÏwhen€this€failed,€Selby€reached€into€Ilabacaððs€car€to€turn€off€theÏignition.€€Selby€alleges€that€Ilabaca€then€pressed€the€accelerator€andÏbegan€to€drive€down€Walnut€Grove€Road€at€50€m.p.h.,€with€Selby€hangingÏout€of€the€car.€€Selby€claims€that€Ilabaca€refused€to€stop€his€car€untilÏanother€car€blocked€Ilabaca€at€the€intersection€of€Walnut€Grove€RoadÏand€White€Station.€Ìà àNot€surprisingly,€Ilabacaððs€rendition€of€the€June€3,€1993€trafficÏstop€conflicts€with€Selbyððs€version€of€the€event.€€Ilabacaððs€answerÍexpressly€denies€that€he€was€speeding€or€violating€any€other€cityÏordinance€when€Selby€stopped€him.€€In€his€counter„claim€against€SelbyÏand€the€City€of€Memphis,€Ilabaca€states€that€Selby€stopped€him€inÏretaliation€for€past€personal€confrontations.€€€Ilabaca€claims€that€whenÏSelby€approached€Ilabacaððs€car,€Ilabaca€objected€to€being€stopped€andÏasked€to€see€Selbyððs€superior.€€According€to€Ilabaca,€Selby€responded€byÏswearing€at€Ilabaca,€striking€him€in€the€chest,€and€placing€Ilabaca€in€aÏchoke€hold.€€Ilabaca€states€that,€as€a€result€of€Selbyððs€conduct,€heÏattempted€to€flee.€€Ilabaca€claims€that€Selby€jumped€onto€IlabacaððsÏmoving€car,€sat€on€the€open€driverððs€door,€and€continued€to€kick€IlabacaÏas€Ilabaca€drove€down€Walnut€Grove€Road.€œÌ›€à àAfter€this€incident,€police€officers€took€Ilabaca€to€the€CriminalÏJustice€Center.€€When€Ilabaca€arrived€at€the€Criminal€Justice€Center,ÏIlabaca€called€Whitworth,€his€lawyer,€neighbor,€and€personal€friend.€ÏWhitworth,€who€has€some€experience€with€criminal€law,€went€to€theÏjail€and€took€an€oral€statement€from€Ilabaca.€€Ìà àAt€approximately€10:00€p.m.€on€June€3,€1993,€Rob€Johnson,€aÏreporter€with€the€òòCommercial€Appealóó,€called€Whitworth€at€home.€€TheÏnext€day,€June€4,€1993,€Whitworth€received€a€telephone€call€fromÍreporter€Angie€Craig€regarding€the€Selby„Ilabaca€incident.€€SelbyððsÏcomplaint€alleges€that,€as€a€result€of€Whitworthððs€responses€to€JohnsonÏand€Craigððs€questions,€the€following€defamatory€statements€appeared€inÏarticles€published€in€the€òòCommercial€Appealóó€on€June€4€and€June€5,Ï1993:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àA.€€Ilabaca€was€running€in€fear€after€Selby€wentÏcrazy;€ÌÌà8 àà8 àB.€€I€know€this€looks€terrible€for€Dr.€Ilabaca,€butÏhe€is€innocent.€€He€was€running€for€his€life;€ÌÌà8 àà8 àC.€€The€idea€that€a€heart€surgeon€just€hit€thisÏofficer€without€provocation€is€ludicrous;€ÌÌà8 àà8 àD.€€The€doctor€was€cooperating€with€the€officerÏuntil€he€[plaintiff€Selby]€went€crazy;€ÌÌà8 àà8 àE.€€Selby€started€yelling€and€kicking€himÏ[Ilabaca].€€œWhat›€œhe›€[Ilabaca]€was€trying€to€do€wasÏgo€to€the€precinct€and€protect€himself.€ÌÓÓÌà àWhitworth€claims€that€it€was€his€ethical€duty,€as€IlabacaððsÏattorney,€to€respond€to€the€òòCommercial€Appealððsóó€questions€concerningÏhis€client.× ƒ% ××  ×€€Additionally,€Whitworth€testified€in€his€deposition€that€heÍmade€it€clear€to€the€òòCommercial€Appealóó€reporters€that€he€had€noÏpersonal€knowledge€of€the€events€surrounding€the€traffic€stop;€rather,Ïhe€was€relying€upon€the€statements€made€to€him€by€Ilabaca.€€He€alsoÏtestified€that€although€he€œtried,€›€he€was€unable€to€obtain€a€copy€of€theÏarrest€report€while€he€was€at€the€jail€with€Ilabaca.Ìà àA€trial€court€should€grant€a€motion€for€summary€judgement€whenÏthe€movant€demonstrates€that€there€are€no€genuine€issues€of€materialÏfact€and€that€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€ofÏlaw.€€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€56.03.€€The€party€moving€for€summary€judgmentÏbears€the€burden€of€demonstrating€that€no€genuine€issue€of€materialÏfact€exists.€€ò òòòByrd€v.€Halló óóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.€1993).€€On€aÏmotion€for€summary€judgment,€the€trial€court€and€the€appellate€courtÏmust€consider€the€matter€in€the€same€manner€as€a€motion€for€directedÏverdict€made€at€the€close€of€the€plaintiffððs€proof;€that€is,€the€trialÏcourt€must€take€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€in€favorÏof€the€nonmoving€party,€allow€all€reasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€thatÏparty€and€discard€all€countervailing€evidence.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€at€210„11.€€TheÏphrase€ð ðgenuine€issueðð€as€stated€in€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€56.03€refers€toÏgenuine,€factual€issues€and€does€not€include€issues€involving€legalÍconclusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€facts.€€ò òòòIdó óóó.€at€211.€€In€ò òòòByrdó óóó,€the€courtÏstated:€€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àOnce€it€is€shown€by€the€moving€party€that€thereÏis€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact,€theÏnonmoving€party€must€then€demonstrate,€byÏaffidavits€or€discovery€materials,€that€there€isÏa€genuine,€material€fact€dispute€to€warrant€aÏtrial.€€ò òòòFowler€v.€Happy€Goodman€Familyó óóó,€575ÏS.W.2d€496,€498€(Tenn.€1978);€ò òòòMerritt€v.ÏWilson€Cty.€Bd.€of€Zoning€Appealsó óóó,€656ÏS.W.2d€846,€859€(Tenn.€App.€1983).€€In€thisÏregard,€Rule€56.05€provides€that€a€nonmovingÏparty€cannot€simply€rely€upon€his€pleadings€butÏmust€set€forth€ò òspecific€factsó ó€showing€thatÏthere€is€a€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€forÏtrial.€€ð ðIf€he€does€not€so€respond,€summaryÏjudgment€.€.€.€shall€be€entered€against€him.ðð€€RuleÏ56.05€(Emphasis€in€original).€ÌÌÓÓà àPrior€to€the€decision€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€òòò òNew€York€TimesÏv.€Sullivanó óóó,€376€U.S.€254,€279„80,€84€S.€Ct.€710,€726,€11€L.Ed.2d€686,Ï706€(1964),€libelous€statements€were€not€accorded€First€AmendmentÏprotection€in€either€the€federal€courts€or€the€courts€of€this€State.€Ïò òòòMemphis€Publishing€Co.€v.€Nicholsó óóó,€569€S.W.2d€412,€415€(Tenn.Ï1978).€€In€ò òòòNew€York€Timesó óóó,€the€Court€stated:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àThe€constitutional€guarantees€require,€we€think,Ïa€federal€rule€that€prohibits€a€public€officialÏfrom€recovering€damages€for€a€defamatoryÍfalsehood€relating€to€his€official€conduct€unlessÏhe€proves€that€the€statement€was€made€withÏð ðactual€maliceðð€„€that€is,€with€knowledge€thatÏit€was€false€or€with€reckless€disregard€ofÏwhether€it€was€false€or€not.ÌÌ376€U.S.€254,€279„280,€84€S.Ct.€710,€726,€11€L.Ed.2d€686,€706€(1964).ÌÌÓÓà àSince€the€decisions€of€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€in€ò òòòNewÏYork€Timesó óóó€and€its€progeny,€the€standards€for€imposing€liability€in€aÏsuit€for€defamation€have€come€to€depend€upon€the€plaintiffððs€status€asÏeither€a€private€person€or€a€public€figure/official.€€€ò òòòPress,€Inc.€v.ÏVerranó óóó,€569€S.W.2d€435,€442€(Tenn.€1978).€€In€ò òòòPressó óóó,€our€SupremeÏCourt€adopted€œthe€òòRestatement›€(2d)€Tortsóó€(1977)€standards€for€liabilityÏin€a€defamation€suit:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àðð€580A.€€òòDefamation€of€Public€Official€or€PublicÏFigureóó.€€One€who€publishes€a€false€andÏdefamatory€communication€concerning€a€publicÏofficial€or€public€figure€in€regard€to€his€conduct,Ïfitness€or€role€in€that€capacity€is€subject€toÏliability,€if,€but€only€if,€he€Ìà8 àà8 à(a)€knows€that€the€statement€is€false€and€that€itÏdefames€that€other€person,€orÌà8 àà8 à(b)€acts€in€reckless€disregard€of€these€matters.ÌÌà8 àà8 àðð€580B.€€òòDefamation€of€Private€Person.óó€€One€whoÏpublishes€a€false€and€defamatory€communicationÏconcerning€a€private€person,€or€concerning€aÏpublic€official€or€public€figure€in€relation€to€aÍpurely€private€matter€not€affecting€his€conduct,Ïfitness€or€role€in€his€public€capacity,€is€subjectÏto€liability,€if,€but€only€if,€he€Ìà8 àà8 à(a)€knows€that€the€statement€is€false€and€that€itÏdefames€the€other,€Ìà8 àà8 à(b)€acts€in€reckless€disregard€of€these€matters,Ïor€Ìà8 àà8 à(c)€acts€negligently€in€failing€to€ascertain€them.€ÌÌò òòòId.ó óóó€at€442.ÌÌÓÓà àWhether€€someone€is€a€private€person€or€a€public€official/figureÏwithin€the€meaning€of€the€rule€stated€in€ò òòòNew€York€Timesó óóó€is€aÏquestion€of€law.€œ›œòòò òÔ€Ô€Ferguson€v.€Union€City€Daily€Messengeró óóó,€845ÏS.W.2d€162,€165€(Tenn.€1992),€òòcert.€deniedóó,€„„„U.S.„„„,€113€S.€Ct.€2931,Ï124€L.Ed.2d€681€(1993).òòò ò€€óóó óÔ€Ô€€Although›€the€issue€for€review€appears€toÏconcede€that€Selby€is€a€public€official,€we€will€briefly€address€thatÏœpoint.òòò ò€€ó óóóIn›€ò òòòPress,€Inc.ó óóó,€the€court€stated€that€a€public€official,€withinÏthe€meaning€of€the€constitutional€privilege,€includes€ð ð[a]ny€position€ofÏemployment€that€carries€with€it€duties€and€responsibilities€affectingÏthe€lives,€liberty,€money€or€property€of€a€citizen€or€that€may€enhance€orÏdisrupt€his€enjoyment€of€life,€his€peace€and€tranquility,€or€that€of€hisÏfamily€.€.€.€.ðð€€ò òòòIdó óóó.€569€S.W.2d€at€441.€€The€term€ð ðpublic€figureððÏencompasses:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àthose€who€have€thrust€themselves€into€theÏvortex€of€important€public€controversies;€thoseÏwho€achieve€such€pervasive€fame€or€notorietyÏthat€they€become€public€figures€for€all€purposes,Ïand€in€all€contexts;€those€who€voluntarilyÏinterject€themselves,€or€are€drawn€into€publicÏcontroversies,€and€become€public€figures€for€aÏlimited€range€of€issues;€and€those€who€assumeÏspecial€prominence€in€the€resolution€of€publicÏquestions.ÌÌò òòòIdó óóó.€ÌÌÓÓà àIn€òòò ò€Press,€Inc.ó óóó,€the€court€held€that€a€junior€social€worker,€whoÏclaimed€that€she€had€been€defamed€by€an€article€appearing€in€the€localÏnewspaper,€was€a€public€official.€€The€article€contained€comments€fromÏthe€parents€of€children€whom€the€social€worker€had€removed€from€theÏparentsðð€home.€€The€court€acknowledged€that€the€social€worker€rankedÏlow€in€the€hierarchy€of€state€government,€but€stated€ð ðwe€do€notÏperceive€that€the€ððpecking€orderðð€is€pertinent.ððòòò ò€€Id.ó óóó,€569€S.W.2d€at€443.€ÏThe€court€concluded€that€the€social€worker€was€ð ðthe€very€epitome€ofÏgovernmentðð€to€the€family€quoted€in€the€allegedly€defamatory€article.€Ïò òòòIdó óóó.Ìà àIn€òòò òFergusonó óóó,€the€court€found€that€plaintiff,€the€purchasing€agentÏfor€Obion€County,€was€a€public€official.€€The€court€based€its€finding€onÍthe€fact€that€the€plaintiffððs€duties€included€substantial€responsibilityÏwith€regard€to€the€countyððs€financial€and€business€affairs.€€The€courtÏstated:€ð ðThe€right€of€the€press€to€criticize€government€and€its€agents€isÏnot€bound€by€the€niceties€of€titles€or€the€legalistic€definition€ofÏduties.ðð€€òòò òId.ó óóó,€845€S.W.2d€at€167.€€Ìà àAlthough€no€Tennessee€case€has€specifically€considered€whether€aÏpolice€officer€is€a€public€official,× ƒ1 ××  ×€courts€in€numerous€otherÏjurisdictions€have€so€found.€€òòò òSee€ó óóóE.H.€Schopler,€Annotation,€ò òòòLibel€andÏSlander:€Who€is€a€Public€Official€or€Otherwise€within€theÏFederal€Constitutional€Rule€Requiring€Public€Officials€toÏShow€Actual€Maliceó óóó,€19€A.L.R.€3d€1361,€ðð€5[d]€(1968€&€Supp.€1995),Ïand€cases€cited€therein.€€Under€the€facts€of€the€present€case,€we€holdÏthat€Owen€Selby€is€a€public€official€within€the€meaning€of€theÏconstitutional€privilege.€€Selbyððs€duties€affect€the€lives,€liberty€andÏproperty€of€citizens,€and€there€is€little€doubt€that€Ilabaca€viewed€SelbyÏas€an€instrument€of€the€government.Ìà àIt€is€clear€that€in€order€to€successfully€assert€a€cause€of€actionÏfor€defamation,€a€public€official€must€establish€that€the€speaker€actedÏwith€actual€malice.€€Plaintiff,€in€his€brief,€however,€asserts€thatÏð ðTennessee€has€not€specifically€dealt€with€the€issue€of€whether€theÏòòò òNew€York€œTimesó óóó›€ððactual€maliceðð€standard€applies€in€cases€where€theÏdefendant€is€not€a€media€organization.ðð€€We€disagree.€€In€ò òòòTrigg€v.ÏLakeway€Publishers,€Inc.ó óóó,€720€S.W.2d€69,€75€(Tenn.€App.€1986)€theÏMiddle€Section€of€this€Court€specifically€held€that€a€non„media€co„defendant€was€entitled€to€the€same€First€Amendment€protection€œas›€theÏmedia€defendant.€€We€consider€this€most€persuasive€authority€œwhich,Ïunless€overruled›€by€the€Supreme€œCourt,›€will€be€followed€by€this€sectionÏof€the€Court.€€Ìà àThe€existence€of€actual€malice€is€a€proper€question€to€be€decidedÏby€a€court€in€a€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€ò òòòTrigg€v.€LakewayÏPublishersó óóó,€720€S.W.2d€69,€74€(Tenn.€App.€1986).€€To€defeat€the€motionÏfor€summary€judgment,€a€public€official€plaintiff€must€demonstrateÏevidence€of€actual€malice€with€ð ðconvincing€clarity.ðð€€ò òòòIdó óóó.€(citing€ò òòòNewÏYork€Timesó óóó,€376€U.S.€at€285„86,€84€S.€Ct.€at€729,€11€L.Ed.2d€at€710).€ÏActual€malice€exists€when€a€statement€is€made€with€knowledge€thatÍthe€statement€is€false,€or€with€reckless€disregard€of€whether€it€isÏfalse.€€ò òòòNicholsó óóó,€569€S.W.2d€at€415€(quoting€ò òòòNew€York€Timesóóó ó,€376€U.S.Ïat€279,€84€S.€Ct.€at€726).€€The€trial€court€found€that€ð ðactual€maliceððÏcould€not€be€imputed€to€Whitworthððs€responses€to€the€questions€posedÏby€the€òòCommercial€Appealóó.€€On€appeal,€Selby€argues€that€WhitworthÏknowingly€made€false€statements€about€Selby€or,€alternatively,ÏWhitworth€made€the€statements€about€Selby€in€reckless€disregard€ofÏwhether€those€statements€were€true.€Ìà àThe€record€is€clear€that€in€answering€questions€posed€byÏòòCommercial€Appealóó€reporters,€Whitworth€related€his€clientððs€renditionÏof€the€events€that€occurred€June€3,€1993,€not€his€own.€€WhitworthððsÏuncontradicted€deposition€testimony€is€that€he€told€the€òòCommercialÏAppealóó€that€he€had€no€first€hand€knowledge€of€the€events€whichÏtranspired€between€Selby€and€Ilabaca.€€We€cannot€agree€with€SelbyððsÏposition€that,€because€Ilabaca€allegedly€knew€his€own€statements€aboutÏSelby€were€false,€Whitworth,€consequently,€had€constructive€knowledgeÏthat€Ilabacaððs€statements€were€false.€€Significantly,€the€record€revealsÏthat€Ilabaca€and€Whitworth€were€longstanding€friends€and€neighbors.€€InÏò òòòTriggó óóó,€Mr.€Trigg,€chairman€of€ð ðCitizens€for€Tax€Reform,ðð€demanded€that€Ía€county€judge€resign€from€office.€€Defendant€Thompson€circulated€aÏpetition€expressing€confidence€in€the€judge.€€When€the€petition€wasÏprinted€in€the€òòElk€Valley€Timesóó,€Trigg€brought€suit€against€both€theÏnewspaper€and€Thompson,€alleging€that€the€contents€of€the€petitionÏwere€defamatory.€€In€that€case,€this€Court€noted€that€the€judge€andÏThompson€had€gone€to€school€together€and€were€lifelong€friends.€ÏThompson€believed€the€contents€of€her€petition€were€true,€despite€herÏadmission€that€she€did€not€have€personal€knowledge€of€the€truth€of€theÏpublication.€€ò òòòIdó óóó.,€720€S.W.2d€at€75.€€In€ò òòòTriggó óóó,€this€Court€said:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àPlaintiff€must€show€that€ð ða€false€publicationÏwas€made€with€a€high€degree€of€awareness€of€.€.€.Ïprobable€falsity€.€.€Ñ7€N­XXdðXXdð7Ñ.€.€€€There€must€be€sufficientÏevidence€to€permit€the€conclusion€that€theÏdefendant€in€fact€entertained€serious€doubts€asÏto€the€truth€of€his€publication.€.€.€.€€€Failure€toÏinvestigate€does€not€in€itself€establish€badÏfaith.ðð€€ò òòòSt.€Amant€v.€Thompsonó óóó,€390€U.S.€atÏ731„733,€88€S.Ct.€at€1325„1326,€20€L.Ed.2d€atÏ267„268.ÌÌò òòòIdó óóó.€at€75.ÌÌÓÓà àSimilarly,€in€the€present€case,€we€cannot€say€that€WhitworthÏshould€have€presumed€that€Ilabacaððs€statements€were€false.€€AlthoughÏIlabacaððs€allegation€that€a€police€officer€stopped€him€without€reason,Íand€proceeded€to€attack€him,€is€incredible,€Selbyððs€claim€that€a€heartÏsurgeon€assaulted€€him€on€Walnut€Grove€Road€in€broad€daylight,€becauseÏhe€received€a€speeding€ticket,€is€equally€amazing.€€Ìœ›à àThe€evidence€in€this€record€does€not€establish,€with€convincingÏclarity,€that€Whitworth€acted€with€reckless€disregard€for€the€truthÏwhen€he€answered€questions€raised€by€theòò€Commercial€Appealóó.€ÏAlthough€it€is€true€that€Whitworth€had€not€investigated€the€matterÏprior€to€answering€the€òòCommercial€Appealððsóó€questions€(the€newspaperÏcalled€Whitworth€approximately€six€hours€after€Ilabacaððs€arrest),€thereÏis€absolutely€no€evidence€that€Whitworth€did€not€believe€IlabacaððsÏversion€of€the€events€surrounding€Ilabacaððs€June€3,€1993€arrest.€ÏMoreover,€even€if€Whitworth€had€read€the€arrest€ticket€or€affidavit€ofÏcomplaint,€he€was€not€bound€to€believe€the€police€officerððs€version€ofÏthe€events,€nor€was€it€his€duty€to€suggest€to€the€newspaper€that€OfficerÏSelbyððs€version€of€the€events€conflicted€with€that€of€his€own€client.€€Ìà àFor€the€reasons€stated€herein,€we€hold€that€the€trial€courtÏproperly€granted€Whitworthððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.€ÏAccordingly,€the€order€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€theÏappeal€are€assessed€against€the€appellant.€€ÌÓӜ̛œÌ›à 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 òÌœÌCONCUR:Ì›Ìó ó_________________________________Ìò òALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌ_________________________________Ìò òHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌÌÔ€ÔÔ€Ôœ