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Florida Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Jews For Jesus False Lights Case

By Howard Friedman

Yesterday the Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Jews for Jesus, Inc. v. Rapp. A state appellate court had certified to the Supreme Court the question of whether Florida recognizes a claim for false light invasion of privacy, and, if it does, whether it would follow the Restatement (Second) of Torts in defining the elements of the claim. (See prior posting.) Edith Rapp, a traditional Jew, claimed that Jews for Jesus falsely portrayed her in an online newsletter as a convert to the group's beliefs, causing her emotional distress and harming her reputation among her religious Jewish friends. The Ft. Myers News-Press reporting on the arguments said: "questioning by most of the justices indicated great skepticism about allowing newspapers or broadcasters to be sued over a story that is factually accurate and not deliberately constructed to hurt anyone." The briefs, pleadings and orders in the case are available online. A video of the full oral argument is also available from the Supreme Court's website. (Windows Media Player; Real Player). A press release by Liberty Counsel previewing the oral arguments gives additional background on the case.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 07, 2008 (boomark / email).