Patrick Reed’s $750,000,000 lawsuit was twice dismissed against Gannett, and other media outlets. Reed has now been ordered to pay the attorney fees and cost to the defendants.
The other defendants include Gannett as well as Golfweek and Associated Press national writer Doug Ferguson. Golfweek is a columnist Eamon Lighny, Golf Channel commentators Brandel Chablee and Damel Hack, and Fox Sports golf journalist Shane Ryan.
Reed also refused to allow Corrigan, the Middle District Court judge of the United States, to reconsider his dismissal and recuse himself.
Corrigan dismissed this suit a second and final time on September 27, 2023.
The first to report the ruling was Andrew Pantanzi editor of The Tributary.
Ruling here: https://t.co/QjtaB5Mv8h
— Andrew Pantazi (@apantazi) January 5, 2024
The original lawsuit was filed in Houston
Corrigan instructed the law firms that represent the defendants to submit a motion for fees and costs. Reed has until February 23 to respond.
Corrigan’s ruling stated that Reed was only trying to re-argue old arguments, old cases, and previous case law considered by the Court. “He claims the Court misrepresented the law and ignored the case law that he cited. This is not true. Before issuing the dispositive order, the Court carefully reviewed the briefs and arguments that were presented.
Reed filed his suit initially in Houston where he lives, and then re-filed it in Jacksonville.
Reed claimed that defendants were guilty of “conspiracy” and defamation as well as falsehoods and tortious interference. He also said the defenders acted in concert and jointly tortfeasors. Reed was criticized for rule violations in tournaments, and joining the LIV Golf League.
Judge rules that comments fall under First Amendment
“Many statements do not refer to Reed. Corrigan’s dismissal letter in September stated that some statements were about LIV Golf of which Reed was a member but did not mention Reed specifically. “Other statements are matters of opinion, or rhetorical hyperbole that is permissible.” Others are facts that are accepted as true.
Larry Klayman stated that Reed’s lawyer, Larry Klayman said, “The PGA Tour and its partner the NBC Golf Channel have a mission to destroy a LIV Golf Tour top player, his family and all LIV Golf Tour players to further their agenda, and alleged cooperative efforts to destroy the LIV Golf Tour.”
As alleged in the Complaint these calculated malicious assaults have created hatred, assisted and abetted an hostile workplace environment and have caused significant financial and emotional harm and damage to Mr. Reed’s family.
Corrigan replied: “Reed has not proven actual malice, which is required to bring the press accountable for defamation.” Reed may feel frustrated by the negative coverage he gets in the media [some of it seems excessive], but under Florida law, and the First Amendment Reed does not bring actionable defamation cases and his cases must therefore be dismissed.
Corrigan reiterated his ruling in which he said that defendants had “exercised their constitutional right to free speech” by publishing articles about Reed, a public figure.
