The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision in ruling that there were sufficient grounds for a trail in a defamation case involving a “Dateline” episode that allegedly libeled the owner of a insurance education firm. “Dateline” reporters had secretly filmed a seminar put on by the firm, supposedly libeling the owner by taking his words out of context. The “Dateline” report demonstrated how insurance agents could use scare tactics to get seniors to buy annuities that did not serve their interests.(Courthouse News Service, July 14, 2014, by Megan Gallegos)
The court found that the case did not involve confidential sources or confidential information so the film taken by “Dateline” was not privileged under Colorado’s shield law. Consequently the film is admissible in court as part of the adjudication of the defamation claim. (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, July 14, 2014, by Bradleigh Chance)