Patrick Reed’s defamation suit against Golfweek and other golf media outlets, which sought $750 million in damages, has been dismissed for a second consecutive time.
The lawsuit was originally filed in Texas in August 2022 and then refiled the following month in Florida. It included Golfweek, Gannett, and Golf Channel’s Damon Hack and Shane Bacon. , who is a Golfweek contributor and also hosts Golf Channel’s “Golf Today,” is Eamon Lynch.
The lawsuit alleged defamation and falsehood that was harmful, tortious interference, and conspiracy. It also alleged the defendants had “acted in concert as joint tortfeasors.”
The U.S. district judge Timothy Corrigan dismissed the lawsuit last November and did it again on Wednesday in a 78 page ruling.
“Many statements do not refer to Reed. Reed is a part of LIV Golf. But not about Reed. Other are matters of opinion, or rhetorical hyperbole that is acceptable. “Yet others are statements that are true and are not contested,” Corrigan wrote.
Larry Klayman Reed’s lawyer, stated earlier that “the PGA Tour and its NBC Golf Channel ‘partner,’ mission is 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.” According to the Complaint these calculated attacks have created hatred, helped and abetted hostile workplace environments, and caused financial and emotional harm and damage to Mr. Reed.
Yet Corrigan wrote:
Reed does not prove actual malice required to bring the press accountable for defamation. Reed may feel frustrated by the negative coverage (some of it seems excessive), but under Florida law, and the First Amendment Reed does not bring actionable defamation cases and his case must be dismissed.
Just in: Patrick Reed’s defamation suits against Brandel Chablee, Eamon Lighn, Shane Bacon and other journalists and media outlets have been dismissed by federal judges.
“While Reed may be frustrated at the [negative media coverage] he fails to bring actionable… pic.twitter.com/JFNsRMOKEF
— John Nucci (@JNucci23) September 27, 2023
