Freeman v. Guaranty Broadcasting Corp.

498 So. 2d 218
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 12, 1986
Docket86 CW 0948
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 498 So. 2d 218 (Freeman v. Guaranty Broadcasting Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Freeman v. Guaranty Broadcasting Corp., 498 So. 2d 218 (La. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

498 So.2d 218 (1986)

Robert L. FREEMAN
v.
GUARANTY BROADCASTING CORP. d/b/a WAFB Television and Denny Brand.

No. 86 CW 0948.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

November 12, 1986.

*219 Lewis O. Unglesby, Baton Rouge, for Robert L. Freeman

Roger M. Fritchie, Jack M. Weiss, Baton Rouge, for Guaranty Broadcasting Corp., WAFB Television and Denny Brand.

Before LOTTINGER, SHORTESS and CARTER, JJ.

CARTER, Judge.

Upon application of Guaranty Broadcasting Corporation, which owns WAFB-T.V. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Denny Brand, a news reporter employed by WAFB-TV, (hereinafter referred to as WAFB-T.V.) for relief under our supervisory jurisdiction, we granted writs of certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus to review an order of the Eighteenth Judicial District Court, which granted a Motion for Protective Order in globo on behalf of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police and of Corrections Services (hereinafter referred to as State Police) and denied an alternative Motion In Limine filed by applicants.

FACTS

On October 4, 5, 7 and 8, 1985, WAFB-T.V. aired a television series entitled "A Summer of Surveillance Involving Politicians, Police and Pushers." The broadcasts alleged that a major cocaine dealer, Louis G. Giavasis, met on three occasions with Lieutenant Governor Robert L. Freeman (hereinafter referred to as Freeman) and his executive assistant, Curtis Landry (hereinafter referred to as Landry). The broadcasts also alleged Freeman was under surveillance by federal drug agents. WAFB-T.V.'s broadcasts also stated Giavasis had met with Freeman about favored treatment in seeking the contract on the state's construction of a bridge.

The program was allegedly based on information provided by a 1984 affidavit, of an Ohio federal drug enforcement agent, which had been executed to obtain wiretap authorization on Louis G. Giavasis and various other parties. The affidavit was unsealed in 1985. According to the affidavit, the surveillance of Giavasis, which had been conducted by various federal and state law enforcement agencies, traced Giavasis' contacts in Louisiana to Freeman and his assistant Landry. In various portions of the affidavit, the following information was set forth:

Paragraph 138. On August 16, 1984, the source [later identified as Giavasis' wife, Judy] advised ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire Arms] Special Agent Patrick J. Berarducci that Louis G. Giavasis was to meet Curtis *220 Landry at the Hilton Hotel, Cottage [College] Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the afternoon of August 16, 1984. The source further advised that Curtis Landry is believed to be the individual that had met Louis G. Giavasis at Steve Stathes house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on approximately June 3, 1984, and discussed a possible cocaine deal involving five kilos per month and the use of and possible sale of a State airplane (see paragraph 103). The Louisiana State Directory lists Curtis Landry as an executive assistant to Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Freeman.

Paragraph 139. On August 16, 1984, FBI surveillance placed Louis G. Giavasis and a man believed to be Curtis Landry together at the Hilton Hotel, Cottage [College] Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Paragraph 140. On August 17, 1984, FBI surveillance confirmed Louis G. Giavasis and Bobby Freeman, the Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, meeting at the Hilton Hotel, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Immediately after the meeting, Louis G. Giavasis, a male believed to be Curtis Landry, and two additional males whose identities have yet to be confirmed, left the Hilton Hotel in an automobile and traveled together to a condominium in Lake Charles. FBI surveillance at the Hilton Hotel during the time that Giavasis and the other males were present confirmed the presence of a Lincoln automobile; license plate HANKS, preceded by a Louisiana State Police car. FBI surveillance confirmed the presence of this same Lincoln automobile; license plate HANKS, and a Louisiana State Police car parked in close proximity to the condominium where Giavasis and the other males had gone within minutes of the males' arrival. FBI surveillance confirmed the Lincoln automobile; license plate HANKS, preceded by the Louisiana State Police car leave the condominium approximately ten minutes later and proceed to a private concourse at the Lake Charles airport. Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman and other unidentified males were observed inside the terminal and to board a Louisiana State aircraft for departure.

Freeman filed a defamation suit against WAFB-TV and Denny Brand seeking damages allegedly caused by the October, 1985 WAFB-TV's broadcasts. In the petition, Freeman alleged that the applicants falsely and maliciously linked Freeman with illegal drug activity and thereby greviously injured his reputation and good name. Freeman contended that he never had a meeting with Giavasis, except to shake his hand briefly at a reception. Freeman also denied ever having any discussion with Giavasis about drugs or the I-10 bridge construction. Freeman alleged that Denny Brand went beyond the statements found in the federal affidavit and colored the facts in such a way as to indicate a non-existent close relationship between Freeman and Giavasis. Freeman's petition quoted portions of the newscasts which were both allegedly false and malicious despite Brand's knowledge of the falsity.

In answering Freeman's petition, applicants asserted the defense of privilege as it relates to the contents of the Ohio affidavit. Applicants also contended that the broadcasts were true or substantially true and that Freeman, as a public official, could not show, by clear and convincing evidence, that the newscasts were aired with actual malice.

WAFB-T.V. propounded interrogatories to Freeman, and the interrogatories were answered. On May 16, 1986, WAFB-T.V. served on the State Police and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's office subpoenas duces tecum for a deposition to be held on May 27, 1986, in Baton Rouge. The subpoenas were issued pursuant to LSA-C.C.P. art. 1442 and required the respective law enforcement agencies to designate one or more officers to testify about the matter set forth in the deposition notice and to produce documents and recordings *221 identified in a schedule annexed to the subpoenas.[1]

The subpoenas also sought the production of law enforcement documents relating to the allegations which gave rise to Freeman's defamation suit. The subpoenas specifically requested all documents from any federal, state, and local law enforcement agency that pertained to any investigation of Landry and other listed state employees. Also, WAFB-T.V. sought all documents relating to state police policies on the confidentiality of their law enforcement activities. The WAFB-T.V. subpoena requested all documents of the state police which related to Freeman's alleged assistance in the investigation of Landry's illegal drug activities. Further, the subpoenas sought the production of the transcripts and records of both Landry interrogations, which had previously been made public. The first interrogation resulted from the federal surveillance, which observed the association of Landry and Giavasis. The second interrogation resulted when the Governor of the State of Louisiana received an anonymous letter stating that an employee in the Lieutenant Governor's office was involved with drugs.[2] The subpoenas also requested production of that anonymous letter.[3] In the event the law enforcement agencies asserted the claim of privilege, the subpoenas

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Bernard v. Trujillo
W.D. Louisiana, 2022
Louisiana State Board of Nursing v. Gautreaux
39 So. 3d 806 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
Does v. Foti
15 So. 3d 972 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2009)
In Re Matter Under Investigation
15 So. 3d 972 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2009)
Skamangas v. Stockton
867 So. 2d 1009 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2004)
Johnson v. Stalder
754 So. 2d 246 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1998)
Winn v. City of Alexandria
643 So. 2d 902 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1994)
Marine Shale Pro. v. State, D. of Health
572 So. 2d 280 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1990)
Harrison v. Norris
569 So. 2d 585 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1990)
Cormier v. PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST OF GIULIO
553 So. 2d 806 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1989)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
498 So. 2d 218, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/freeman-v-guaranty-broadcasting-corp-lactapp-1986.