Reeves v. Fox Television Network

983 F. Supp. 703, 25 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2104, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17344, 1997 WL 690079
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedApril 30, 1997
Docket1:96 CV 0281
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 983 F. Supp. 703 (Reeves v. Fox Television Network) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Reeves v. Fox Television Network, 983 F. Supp. 703, 25 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2104, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17344, 1997 WL 690079 (N.D. Ohio 1997).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF OPINION AND ORDER

NUGENT, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on Defendants, Fox Television Network and Barbour Langley Productions, Motion for Summary Judgment. (Document # 17). For the reasons stated below, Defendants’ Motion is GRANTED.

Procedural History

Plaintiff, Willie Reeves, Jr., filed a complaint on February 9, 1996, against defendants Fox Television Network (“Fox”), the network which airs the television show “COPS,” Barbour-Langley Productions (“Barbour”), the producer of the television show “COPS,” and the City of Cleveland (“Cleveland”) 1 . Plaintiff asserts that this Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3) and 1343(4) because Plaintiff, a private citizen of the United States, is bringing this action pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1871 and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 seeking redress for Defendants’ alleged violation of his rights under the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. Plaintiff also asserts pendent state claims under Article I, Sections'll and 14 of the Ohio Constitution and Ohio common law pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.

Plaintiffs Complaint arises over his arrest by the Cleveland police on or about August 30,1993, for felonious assault. 2 Plaintiff contends that he was in the shower after a physical altercation with another man, when the Cleveland police rang his doorbell. One of the police officers asked Plaintiff if they could enter his house to talk about the earlier altercation. Plaintiff opened his door and said that he had to put away his dog. The police entered after the Plaintiff had put away his dog. A Barbour camera crew, consisting of a cameraman and a sound man, which was accompanying one of the police officers for the television show “COPS,” entered with the police and videotaped Plaintiffs encounter with the police and his arrest. Some of the footage of Plaintiffs arrest was aired as part of a “COPS” television show on Fox on more than one occasion. Fox was not present at Plaintiffs residence and took no part in compiling the “COPS” show which contained footage of Plaintiff. Fox reviewed the “COPS” show at issue to be certain it met broadcast standards and broadcast the show.

Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges five counts against Barbour and Fox based on the. broadcast of the “COPS” show and two counts based on the entry onto Plaintiffs property as follows: Invasion of Privacy/Intrusion, False Light; Invasion of Privacy, Disclosure, False Light; Invasion of Privacy, Appropriation; Trespass; and, Intentional and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress. Fox and Barbour filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on October 16, 1996, with accompanying affidavits and depositions. 3 Defen *708 dants argue that there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute and that, as a matter of law, Plaintiff is not entitled to recover under any of the tort theories that he has asserted. Plaintiff filed a Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment and Fox and Barbour filed a Reply Memorandum in Support. A hearing was held on Defendants’ Motion on January 15, 1997. The entire videotape taken by the Barbour crew on the night of Plaintiffs arrest, as well as the short segment of the “COPS” television show featuring Plaintiffs arrest, was viewed by the Court and the parties at the hearing.

Law and Argument

I. Standard for Summary Judgment

Summary judgment is appropriate where the court is satisfied “that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). The burden of showing the absence of any such “genuine issue” rests with the moving party:

[A] party seeking summary judgment always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of ‘the pleadings, depositions answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any,’ which it believes demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.

Celotex v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552-53, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (citing FED.R.CIV.P. 56(c)). A fact is “material” only if its resolution will affect the outcome of the lawsuit. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Determination of whether a factual issue is “genuine” requires consideration of the applicable evidentiary standards. The court will view the summary judgment motion “in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion.” U.S. v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 994, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962); see also U.S. v. Hodges X-Ray, Inc., 759 F.2d 557, 562 (6th Cir.1985).

Summary judgment should be granted if a party who bears the burden of proof at trial does not establish an essential element of their case. Tolton v. American Biodyne, Inc., 48 F.3d 937, 941 (6th Cir.1995) (citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. at 2552). Accordingly, “[t]he mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the plaintiffs position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the plaintiff.” Copeland v. Machulis, 57 F.3d 476, 478 (6th Cir.1995) (quoting Anderson, at 248-49, 106 S.Ct. at 2510-11 (1986)). Moreover, if the evidence presented is “merely colorable” and not “significantly probative,” the court may decide the legal issue and grant summary judgment. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. at 2510-11 (citation omitted). In most civil cases involving summary judgment, the court must decide “whether reasonable jurors could find by a preponderance of the evidence that the [non-moving party] is entitled to a verdict.” Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. at 2512. However, if the non-moving party faces a heightened burden of proof, such as clear and convincing evidence, it must show that it can produce evidence which, if believed, will meet the higher standard. Street v. J.C. Bradford & Co., 886 F.2d 1472

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983 F. Supp. 703, 25 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2104, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17344, 1997 WL 690079, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reeves-v-fox-television-network-ohnd-1997.