The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected a former legislative candidate's defamation lawsuit against the state Republican Party over campaign flyers.
The Lincoln Journal Star says the court ruled Thursday that tone of the publications constitute opinion and is protected by the First Amendment.
Democrat Rex Moats, of Omaha, sued the GOP after losing in the November 2008 election, saying he was defamed by 11 campaign flyers. The flyers referenced Moats' work with a vehicle-repair insurance company that failed in 2003 and left about 500,000 people without coverage. In the mailings, the Nebraska GOP claimed Moats received a $50,000 trust fund from the insurance company and misled creditors and the public.
Moats' attorney didn't immediately comment on the ruling. Mark Fahleson of the GOP hailed the ruling, calling the lawsuit "frivolous." |
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