Eramo v. Rolling Stone LLC et al

Filing 345

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 10/31/16. (jcj)

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ntpprs OF CE U. , sm COURT FI S Dl A Tc* 0= s R V WL A FI LED I THE UN I N TED STATES DI STR I CO URT CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF V I N I CT RGI A CHA RLOTTESV I LLE DI I ON V SI 02T 31 2 1 25 gu , LMCEK E LR RK N I LE P. AM O , CO ER Ci lA c i N o.3: - vi ton 15 CV 00023 Pl n if ai tf , M EM O M N D UM O PI I N N O ROLLI STONE LLC,e a . NG t l, H on.Gl n E.Co 'd e ma Chi fUnied St t Dit tJ e t aes sdc udge D e e nt . f nda s F o Oco e 1 ,2 6t r u h Oco e 28 2 6 abf rae j r tilwa c n u td o r m t b r 7 01 h o g t b r , 01 , iuc td u y ra s o d ce n pli tf ' cai ofde a a i a def ma i by i i ton.Att cos ofpli ifse de e, a n ifs l ms f m ton nd n ton mplcai he l e antf vi nc d fn a t mo e f rj g n a amatro lw p ru n t Fe ea Rue o Ci i Pr c d r ee d n s v d o ud me t s te f a u s a t o d rl l f vl o e u e 5 () Th c s i c re l b f r te c u to d f n a t'mo in a t p an ifsd fmain by 0 a . e a e s u rnty e o e h o r n ee d ns to s o litf ea to i i to c am a pli ifs m o i t clrf he cli .Fort f l ng r as ,t kour mplcai n l i nd antf ton o a iy r am he olowi e ons he t wilgr ntde e nt 'm o i n. l a f nda s to St andar ofR e e d vi w Rue 5 ()o t eFe e a Ru e o Cii Pr c d r p nni apa t t s b tamoin fr l 0 a f h d r l ls f v l o e u e e t s ry o u mi to o j dg n a amatro lw a trt o po i p ryh sbe n f l h a d t t s a tt Ru e5 () u me t s te f a fe he p sng a t a e ul e r .t l u n o l 0 a , y pr t c u t l n ts b ta is et t j r u ls s f in e i e c e it t j siy a a lg l he o r wil o u mi n su o he u y ne s u sce t v d n e x ss o u t , s e a f matr afn igi fv ro tepr p n n . noh rwo d ,ft ej g c n l e t a t panif te , i dn n a o f h o o e t I te r s i h ud e o cud s h t he litf s c s i, samatro lw, owe kt a n rto lur c udfndi fvo o teplitf,hej d e ae s a te f a s a h t o aina j y o l i n a r f h an if t u g ha t ea t o iyt e tr u g n i fv ro ted fn a ts. Bek l . M e e Co .U. , s h u h rt o n e j d me t n a o f h e e d n gj' l nc v. y r m s S. ' 679F.d 1 1 ( hCi. 2) 3 46, 60 4t r 201 . Di si scus on The f t oft s c e a e ou lne i de a l i t co ts m e o a ac s hi as r ti d n t i n he ur ' m r ndum opi o g a i i ni n r ntng n Case 3:15-cv-00023-GEC Document 345 Filed 10/31/16 Page 1 of 5 Pageid#: 16983 p r a d d n ig i p r t p ris co smoinsfrsl r j dg n .Se Ermo v Roln a t n e yn n a t he a t ' r s to o l e mmay u me t e a . lig S o e No. 1 CV23 2 6W L 5 3 6 8 ( . Va Se t2 2 6 .nhe c mpan, litf d d t n , 3:5 , 01 2 4 8 W D. . p . 2, 01 ) l r o litp an if i note e sy i ude a c xpr s l ncl ountf de n ai n by i plc ton.De e an s howe r ac or f m to m iai f nd t , ve , knowl dged e t t pl i ifs % ompl nt ar dy a s rs cli s t r a t r of def ma i by i ia i ' ha antf' s c ai lea s e t am mde heo y a ton mplc ton. ' Emalfo Als n Sc ay t Lib Lo ke ( ac 1 ,201 6:3 p. ) Ata h a g h l o i r m io h r o b y c M rh 6 6 1 m.. e dn ed n Ocobe 11 2016,def nda sr que t t tpl i ifs c f t de n aor m e ni s cai t r , e nt e sed ha antf pe iy he f m t y a ng he l med de e f ndan si i He ng Tr 42- Dkt 263. ai ifa ee t 'o s a s ei t r afe , t mpled. mi . 43, . Pl ntf gr d o d o nd, om tpe he e tr pr de a sa e ntde i a i t alege de a aor i i ton.1 Pl ntf a s re lha t ovi d tt me lne tng he l d f m t y mplcai d. ai if s e td ç t he t Roli St lng one a tc e I Ra on Cn pus ' t ken a a w hol a vi wed i c e w ih is ril A pe m , a s e nd e n ont xt t t he dlne ,il ta i ,c ptonsa pr a i s lusr tons a i nd omotonalma e i l i ple a i i ua e t tNi eEr mo i t ra ,m i s nd nsn t s ha col n a t d a a f l e find t J cde pr tndi t be o he sde whie a t s m e tme d s our gi c e s a s re o a l , e e ng o n r i l t he n i i c a ng J ki fom pu s ng a f malcompl ntorpolc i tga i r r ng he r pe al ga i i ac e r r ui or ai ie nvesi ton ega di r a le tons n or rt s es t a s ul a pr e tt Uni r iy' r putton. Afe r si a prort t de o uppr s he s a t nd ot c he ve st s e a i ' tr e tng nd i o he ' de e nt 'pr s ntton ofe de ,pl ntf ove t ca iy he def ma or i plc ton cai . f nda s e e a i vi nce ai ifm d o lrf r a t y m i a i l m l Vigi a a de n ai by i i a i pli if mus de onsr t t tGt saeme s n r ni , f m ton mplc ton antf t m ta e ha lhe t t nt we e d sg e a d itn e b t e d f n a t t i l (h d f mao y i e o o wh c te r e in d n n e d d y h ee d n s o mpy t e ea t r r nd f ih h mu plitf c mpli sl'Pe d eo v Ne o ,2 0 Va 1 2 1 5( 1 ) W he a p an ifalg s anif o an .' n ltn . ws me 9 . 6 , 7 20 5 . n litf l e e t ts ha be de a e by i i ton,çhe al ge i ia i mus be r as ha he s en f m d mplcai t le d mplc ton t t e onabl d a fom y r wn r t ewo d a tal us d'W e b v. r ii- l tM e i Co .LLC,28 Va 8 8 ( 01 )(ii h r s cu l e . b Vignapio da s. y ' 7 . 4, 9 2 4 ctng Ch pn v.Kng tli d r I c,9 3 F.d 1 7 1 9 - 3 ( t Ci. 1 9 );s e as Ca wi v. ai ih-td e. n . 9 2 08 , 0 2 9 4h r 9 3 ) e lo r l e Rihmo 1 Va 1,9 ( 954)(ç me ni oft alege den t y lngua c no,by c nd, 96 . 1 çfhe a ng he l d fmaor a ge nn t i nnue ndo,be e e d beyond is or na y a com m o a ce a i n.The pr nc oft im ue xt nde t di r nd n c pt t o ovi e he r ndo it s s o how how t wor us d a e def ma or a how t y r lt t t pli if buti c nno he ds e r n t y, nd he ea e o he a ntf, t n t i r ntoduce ne m a t r nor e e t m ea ng of t w or us d,or m ake t t c r a n w hi h i i w te , xt nd he ni he ds e ha e t i c sn 2 Case 3:15-cv-00023-GEC Document 345 Filed 10/31/16 Page 2 of 5 Pageid#: 16984 fc unc ran.) a t t ti ' . ' Cli frd fmain a es b e tt noiepla ig rq ie n sstfrh i F d rlRu e ams o ea to r u j c o tc e dn e ur me t e o t n e ea l o Cii Pr c dze 8 a .No ehee s a d fmain plitf û u h t s e iy te d fmao y f v l o e l () n t ls, e n to an if ç g t o p cf h en t r r o sa e e t ,e n unde t lbe alf de a pl a ng r me. J tt m n s ve r he i r e r l e di egi ' ohns v.La z,2: ' on nt 02CV001 2002 20, W L 1 21 0 a #1( . Va Au 8 2 0 ) Fo e mp e i Co e v. t M o ta eI c,t e 8 61 , t W D. . g. , 0 2 . r xn l, n mp l Cii rc c n . h dititc tdim is d a de nma i cl m whe t c src our s s e f ton ai n he ompli f l ç o i n iy whi h s cii ant aied ç de tf t c pe fc sae nsplitf c nsd re )d fmao y o lb l u . 10 CV01 7 ,2 0 W L 4 0 1 ,a *1 ttme t an if o i e ld e a t r r ieo s' :4 ' 37 05 9 48 6 t ( D.Va Fe 23,2005) E. . b. . Tra c rsha c it nty r le upon t i i l ou t ve onsse l ei d he nnuendo al ged i t pl ntf c le n he ai ifs ompli ant i de e mi ng whe he apli ifha s fcinty saed a c am .Se e. ,Cha n v.Gr ve 787 F. n t r ni t r antf s ufi e l t t li e g. pi e , S p 5 7 5 4 ( D. .1 9 )(G ed s stv q sinp e e tdi whehe o n tar a o be u p. 5 , 6 E. Va 9 2 C Th ipo iie ueto r s ne s t r r o e s na l f c fnde c d c l t tt a tce o saeme si t a tce sae ori y,i t i pl i a a ti r oul oncude ha he ri l r t t nt n he ri l t t mpl n her an nd naurls ns ,t den tr me ngsa ci d t t m hy pli if L t i co ai .)(ii t a e e he fmao y ani s rbe o he . antfs q her mpl nt' ctng ' M ikovih v.Lori J na Co. 497 U. 1 20- ( :; Pe eon,290 Va. a 1 l c ane our l , S. , 21 1990 ndlt t 75 (o cu ig t tt e sae n sa is e wee de s n by c pa l o c n e ig t e d fmao y c n ldn ha h ttme t t su r t a o a l a b e f o v yn h e n t r r i ndo pfwh c panifc mp an ' W e b 2 7 Va a 8 ($ u ,teq e to f rt ecrut nnue ih litf o lis); b , 8 . t 9 G s h u sin o h ic i Th . c twhe nzi on t de u r rwa whehe ,a am a trofl w,t a tc ei r s na y ca bl our n lng he m r e s t r s te a he ri l s ea o bl pa e o te d f mao y me n n g an if a c d ! i) Fo e mp e n Pe deo v.Ne o , f h e a t r a i g plitfl s dbe . 1. 4 xa l,i n lt n Q ws me pl i ifa lged t tdef nda sçf lel i i i e r d,a ori i ed,t ough r lva f t, antf le ha e nt la s y mpled, nf r e nd/ nsnuat hr ee nt acs a du eo in e d ,ha g c l s d ahwa c usdb ( rmohe 'jalg dia to . 29 Va n s f n u n o t t a hi j e t s a e y he t rs le e n cins' 0 . d' ' a 1 I isopi on r ve sng a r m a ng,t Supr m e Cour ofVig ni sa e t tpl i if t 67. n t ni e r i nd e ndi he e t r i a tt d ha antf w o d bea t blr n ofpr ng û ha t s a em e s ...w e e de i d a i e d ...t i pl ul r he zde ovi ç t he t t nt t r s gne nd nt nde om y t tt pl i ifw a r s ha he a ntf s e pons bl f rhe c l s de t ' 1 a 1 i e o r hid' a h.' d. t 75. 3 Case 3:15-cv-00023-GEC Document 345 Filed 10/31/16 Page 3 of 5 Pageid#: 16985 He e t c tbele s t t pl i if m e he f de a notce pl a ng r quie nt whe r , he our ive ha antf t r e rl i e di e r me n pl ntf dei r d t de e nt he sa e e o i ia i a trt Oc obe 11 2016he rng.At ai if lve e o f nda s r t t m nt f mplc ton fe he t r , ai t t poi i tm e de e nt ha e ha nt n i , f nda s d nough i or ton t t mdert nd t de e e a lbl t nf ma i o t t sa he f ns s vaia e o g e a d ho E e )s ul p o e d' Co l 20 5 W L 4 0 1 ,a * M o e v r o l u n t m) n w t y ho d r c e . mpe, 0 h h ' 9 48 6 t 2. ro e , n y po de i atng t def ma or i plc ton c d pl ntf a tmptt pr t tt i iaton wa a lne i he a t y m i a i oul ai if te o ove ha he mplc i s f le f c ua as e ton t tde enda s G sgned a i e d, as r quie by Vigi a lw.See a s a t l s ri ha f nt ' i de nd nt nde ' ' e rd r ni a Pe e on,290 Va. 1 - Thus t c tc l st ti mus us t de n aor m e ni a ndlt at 71 75. , he our oncude ha t t e he f m t y a ng s a lge by t pl ntf i e ua i whe he t ize e coul be ç e s bl dr wn fom t le d he ai if n val tng t r he lf r nce d t a ona y a r r he wo ds acua l us d' a whehe t de e nt i e d s h a i ia i W e 28 Va.a r t ly e ' nd t r he f nda s ntnde uc n mplc ton. bb, 7 t 89. Afe r tng he ca e pli ifno s ks t ca iy o n e he cli s a t alege a tr esi r s , antf w ee o lrf r m nd r am o s o l dfee ti lc to W h l la et n ndac mpan i G rey gv n whe j sies r q r s' ifrn mpiain. ie e v o me o lit s ç e l i e f n u tc o e uie y ' t c ts d de gr tng l a whe e g r a on e ss s h aswhe t n nd e wo d he our houl ny an i e ve r ood e s xit, uc n he me m nt ul b ' rj dca t t e o p sn pa t ' Ho a k v.Do ,7 1 CV0 71 ,2 5 W L 5 5 7 5 a *1 e t eu iil o h p o ig ry. b c p ' e :4 0 1 01 534,t ( . Va S p .1 ,2 5 (ii g Fe .R.Ci P.1 ().Th f d rlr ls c ne ae n tc W D. . e t 8 01 ) ctn d v. 5 a) e e ea ue o tmplt o ie pladi s t tt o he pa t ha t o runiy t de e is l.Se Eve e tv.Prs He lh e ng o ha he t r ry s he ppo t t o f nd te f 4 rt ion at Se v ,41 F.App' 604,606 ( h Ci.2011 .Her,t c u'beive t tal ng pli ift rs 2 x 4t r ) e he ot t le s ha lowi antf o a nd on t e ofde enda s'ca ewoul no pr dedef nda swih s fcen tme t de l p me he ve f nt s d t ovi e nt t ufi i t i o ve o or he o r wil e y h litf t erd fn e c u igp eu ieiTheref e, t c u t ld n t ep an ipsmo int caiy. h i ee s , a sn rj dc . to o lrf Ha ig he r t e e i e c ,te c u tb le e ta n r a o a l j r rc ud fn t a G vn ad h v d n e h o r eiv s h t o e s n b e u o o l i d h t W R a on Ca pus' r a a a w hol and i c e of t con e por ne pr m o i nalm a e i l pe m ,' e d s e n ont xt he t m a ous o t o tra , r a ona y i i t tEr mo wa a f le find t J c e who pr t nde t be on J ki s sde e s bl mples ha a s a s re o a ki ee d o ac e' i w hie s ki t s l ee ng o uppr s s xua a s ul r pori Si ia l ba e o t e de e a e s e l sa t e t ng. m l r y, s d n he vi nc dduc t ed, he 1 Thi i e pe i lyt' i aca es h a t si whi h pl ntf c led ma oft wine s s s s s cal l n ue s uc s hi n c ai if a l ny he t s e i ntfedby de e nt a adve s wine s . de ii f nda s s r e t s es 4 Case 3:15-cv-00023-GEC Document 345 Filed 10/31/16 Page 4 of 5 Pageid#: 16986 c u tf rhe beiv s t tn r a o a l jzo c u d fnd ta an if h s etbihe b a o r u t r le e ha o e s n be l r o l i h tplitf a sa ls d y r pr po er nc oft e de e t tde e nt de i d a i e e nd a e he vi nc ha f nda s sgne nd nt nded t sde a a o y i i a i hi f m t r mplc ton. Theeo e t e c u twilg a td fn a t'moi n f rj d me ta amatro 1w i r lto t rf r, h o r l rn e e d n s to o u g n s te f a n eain o pl i ifsdef ma i by i ia i ale tons I s hol ng,t c tde e pl ntf moton antf a ton mplc ton lga i . n o di he our nis ai ips i f l ve t c a iy ora e he c ai . or ea o l r f m nd r l m Co l i nc us on Fo t er a o sae ,d f n a t'moin f rj d me ta amatro lw a t plitf r h e s ns ttd e e d n s to o u g n s te f a s o an ifs de ama i by i ia i c am i gr nt d a pl ntf moton t c a iy i deni The Clr i f ton mplc ton l i s a e nd ai ifs i o l rf s ed. ek s dieced t s nd ce tfed c e oft sm e andum o ni a t a ompa ng or t a 1 r t o e rii opis hi mor pi on nd he cc nyi der o l c m s lofr c d. ot e e or sxvsR:Ths 3 1 da o tb r 2 6 i Jr y roco e, 01 . Ch'fUnied St t DititJ t aes src udge 5 Case 3:15-cv-00023-GEC Document 345 Filed 10/31/16 Page 5 of 5 Pageid#: 16987

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