Part I: Summary
This past October, Gil Botello filed a lawsuit against Ted Sanchez for distributing false information to the San Bernardino community about him (Botello) during the San Bernardino City Council elections. Both candidates are running to represent Sanchez’s campaign mailer distributed filers that accused Botello of being charged with a criminal offense and portrayed Botello as “a deadbeat crook and cheat” when he filed for bankruptcy in 2009. In the lawsuit against Sanchez, Botello claims that the mailer “shows fake case numbers”, misconstruing Botello’s reputation even more.
When Sanchez was asked about Botello's rejection of the claims made in the mailer, Sanchez said that two independent background checks were made and showed a criminal case was made against Botello. However, Sanchez did not provide any physical evidence to support these "background checks" were done. The Southern California News Group searched databases but did not find anything that supported neither Botello's or Sanchez's claims.
After the flier had been given to residents, Sanchez was issued a cease and desist letter. However, Botello’s attorney says that afterward a second mailer was sent out by the committee that made even more defamatory statements. Botello says that these fliers will negatively affect how the 1st Ward residents will view and treat him. Botello is seeking $500,000 in damages.
When Sanchez was asked about Botello's rejection of the claims made in the mailer, Sanchez said that two independent background checks were made and showed a criminal case was made against Botello. However, Sanchez did not provide any physical evidence to support these "background checks" were done. The Southern California News Group searched databases but did not find anything that supported neither Botello's or Sanchez's claims.
After the flier had been given to residents, Sanchez was issued a cease and desist letter. However, Botello’s attorney says that afterward a second mailer was sent out by the committee that made even more defamatory statements. Botello says that these fliers will negatively affect how the 1st Ward residents will view and treat him. Botello is seeking $500,000 in damages.
Part II: Questions Raised
- Did one or more people see this material published?
- Is the defamatory material clearly written about the plaintiff?
- Was a criminal case ever brought against Botello?
- If the story about Botello was true, would the community think less of him? Would this information ruin/damage his reputation and future career choices?
- Are Botello and Sanchez considered public figures or public officials?
- Is the information on the campaign mailer considered a part of political speech?
Part III: Relevant Doctrine
Test for libel:
Publication: Seen or heard by a third party
Identification: The story is “of and concerning” the plaintiff
Defamation: Injury to reputation, what other people think about the plaintiff
Fault:
Publication: Seen or heard by a third party
Identification: The story is “of and concerning” the plaintiff
Defamation: Injury to reputation, what other people think about the plaintiff
Fault:
- Actual Malice (wall of bricks)- Knowledge of falsity OR,
- Negligence (one brick)- Reckless disregard for the truth
· Falsity: The statement is not “substantially true” if the “gist” of the statement is substantially true, then a court will not find it to be false.
· Damages: Three different categories…
1. Damages for the plaintiff’s actual injury to compensate the plaintiff for injuries (need to prove actual malice)
2. Punitive damages, to punish the defendant (need to prove actual malice)
3. Presumed Damages, can’t prove but presume loss
Applying the test:
Publication: The campaign mailer was sent out to the 1st Ward residents, so the court can assume at least one-third party has seen/heard about the flier.
Identification: The flier was specifically about candidate Gil Botello.
Defamation: The information on the flier (if false) would make a substantial and respectable minority of the community to think less of Botello because of the claims made. Botello would not be elected to represent residents in the San Bernardino City Council. The flier created distrust in the community against Botello, therefore, hurt his job.
Fault: The plaintiff must prove that Sanchez new of the damage he would cause him (Botello) in the election. Botello would need to provide evidence that there was never a criminal record/case against him.
Falsity: Botello would have to prove falsity because if the story would be accurate then that would have destroyed his chances of getting elected to the city council. If the story were true it would affect his career and the possibility of ever getting elected.
Damages: In order to receive any punitive damages and/or presumed damages, Botello would need to prove actual malice. Presumed damages would mean that if Sanchez had not published defamatory against Botello, could Botello have potentially been elected to city council?
Identification: The flier was specifically about candidate Gil Botello.
Defamation: The information on the flier (if false) would make a substantial and respectable minority of the community to think less of Botello because of the claims made. Botello would not be elected to represent residents in the San Bernardino City Council. The flier created distrust in the community against Botello, therefore, hurt his job.
Fault: The plaintiff must prove that Sanchez new of the damage he would cause him (Botello) in the election. Botello would need to provide evidence that there was never a criminal record/case against him.
Falsity: Botello would have to prove falsity because if the story would be accurate then that would have destroyed his chances of getting elected to the city council. If the story were true it would affect his career and the possibility of ever getting elected.
Damages: In order to receive any punitive damages and/or presumed damages, Botello would need to prove actual malice. Presumed damages would mean that if Sanchez had not published defamatory against Botello, could Botello have potentially been elected to city council?
Part IV: Conclusion
After taking this lawsuit through the libel test, I think that if Botello can prove that there was no criminal case made against him the judge would rule in favor of him. When Sanchez was asked about the claims made he said that there were two background checks done on Botello but never provided any proof, so my guess is that he does not have physical evidence.
Referring to the questions raised above, I would consider Botello and Sanchez to be public figures because people in San Bernardino would pay attention if they would release a statement about their campaign for council member. Since neither of them has been elected to government they would not be considered public officials. I do not believe that the campaign mailer would be considered "political speech" because the information about Botello was not attacking his political platform just his personal history. If the candidates were face-to-face, arguing about political viewpoints and something defamatory was said, that would be protected political speech.
After taking this lawsuit through the libel test, I think that if Botello can prove that there was no criminal case made against him the judge would rule in favor of him. When Sanchez was asked about the claims made he said that there were two background checks done on Botello but never provided any proof, so my guess is that he does not have physical evidence.
Referring to the questions raised above, I would consider Botello and Sanchez to be public figures because people in San Bernardino would pay attention if they would release a statement about their campaign for council member. Since neither of them has been elected to government they would not be considered public officials. I do not believe that the campaign mailer would be considered "political speech" because the information about Botello was not attacking his political platform just his personal history. If the candidates were face-to-face, arguing about political viewpoints and something defamatory was said, that would be protected political speech.
