Peterson v. Grisham, No. 08-7100

In a defamation action against author John Grisham based on false statements he allegedly made about plaintiffs in a book, dismissal of the action is affirmed where: 1) any connection between defendants' statements and an accusation of criminal activity was far too tenuous for the court to declare them as unprivileged for purposes of Okla. Stat. 1443.1; and 2) because section 1443.1 applied to plaintiffs' libel claims, plaintiffs were also barred under the statute from asserting a valid claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress or false light.

Read Peterson v. Grisham, No. 08-7100

Appellate Information

Filed February 1, 2010

Judges

Opinion by Judge Lucero

Counsel

For Appellants:

Gary L. Richardson and Denise P. James, The Richardson Law Firm, P.C., Tulsa, OK

For Appellees:

Robert D. Nelon, Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C., Oklahoma City, OK

Cheryl A. Pilate, Morgan Pilate, LLC, Olathe, KS