Albritton v. Cisco Systems, Inc. et al

Filing 303

MOTION for Judgment as a Matter of Law (Renewed) by Cisco Systems, Inc., Richard Frenkel. (Babcock, Charles) (Additional attachment(s) added on 9/21/2009: # 1 Text of Proposed Order) (mjc, ).

Albritton v. Cisco Systems, Inc. et al

Doc. 303

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS TYLER DIVISION ERIC M. ALBRITTON §

V.

§

C. A. NO. 6:08-CV-00089 CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. AND RICK FRENKEL § §

DEFENDANTS ' RENEWED MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW TO THE HONORABLE COURT: Defendants Cisco Systems , Inc. ("Cisco ") and Richard Frenkel (" Frenkel ") reurge their motion for judgment as a matter of law ("JMOL ") pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(a) as follows: 1. GROUNDS FOR JMOL

A judgment as a matter of law is appropriate when "a party has been fully heard on an issue during a jury trial and the court finds that a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient evidentiary basis to find for the party on that issue." FED.R.Civ.P. 50(a)(1).

Defendants submit that JMOL is appropriate on each of the following grounds and request that the Court enter judgment that: 1. Plaintiff has no claim for libel because he has no evidence of, and indeed he does not seek damages for, injury to reputation, which libel protects. The Articles at issue are non-actionable, on numerous grounds , including substantial truth, rhetoric, hyperbole, opinion, not defamatory, or not "of and concerning" Albritton as a matter of law. The Articles at issue are not libelous per se as a matter of law. There is no evidence Plaintiff sustained mental anguish damages, the only element of compensatory damages he seeks.

2.

3. 4.

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Dockets.Justia.com

5. 6. 7.

There is no evidence of fault. There is no claim for libel by juxtaposition or material omission. The Articles at issue involve a matter of public concern, that is, they relate to any matter of political, social, or other concern to the community. Plaintiff cannot recover exemplary damages because there is no clear and convincing evidence of Chapter 41 "malice" or gross negligence as a matter of law. Plaintiff cannot recover exemplary damages because there is no clear and convincing evidence of Constitutional "actual malice," an additional, essential element of such a claim, as a matter of law. Defendants incorporate by reference the arguments made in their Motion for Judgment as

8.

9.

a Matter of Law.

Respectfully submitted,

JACKSON WALKER L.L.P.

By:

/sl Charles L. Babcock
Charles L . Babcock Federal Bar No.: 10982 Email: [e-mail] Crystal J . Parker Federal Bar No.: 621142 Email : [e-mail] 1401 McKinney, Suite 1900 Houston , Texas 77010 [phone] [phone] - Fax

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
GEORGE MCWILLIAMS, P.C.

By:

/s/ George L. McWilliams with permission by Charles L. Babcock George L. McWilliams Texas Bar No: 13877000 GEORGE L. MCWILLIAMS, P.C. 406 Walnut P.O. Box 58 Texarkana, Texas 75504-0058 [phone] [phone]-Fax Email: glmlawofficena gmail.com

ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT RICK FRENKEL

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE This is to certify that on this 17`h day of September, 2009, a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served via electronic mail and hand delivery upon: James A. Holmes 605 South Main Street , Suite 203 Henderson , Texas 75654 Patricia L. Peden Law Offices of Patricia L. Peden 5901 Christie Avenue Suite 201 Emeryville, CA 94608 Nicholas H. Patton Patton, Tidwell & Schroeder, LLP 4605 Texas Boulevard P.O. Box 5398 Texarkana, Texas 75505-5398

/s/ Charles L. Babcock Charles L. Babcock

-45611967v. I