STATE EX REL. LINCOLN JOURNAL v. Hustead

716 S.E.2d 507
CourtWest Virginia Supreme Court
DecidedMay 2, 2011
Docket35734
StatusPublished

This text of 716 S.E.2d 507 (STATE EX REL. LINCOLN JOURNAL v. Hustead) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
STATE EX REL. LINCOLN JOURNAL v. Hustead, 716 S.E.2d 507 (W. Va. 2011).

Opinion

716 S.E.2d 507 (2011)

STATE of West Virginia ex rel. The LINCOLN JOURNAL, INC., Thomas A. Robinson, Individually, and Ron Gregory, Individually, Petitioners
v.
Honorable F. Jane HUSTEAD, Judge of the Circuit Court of Cabell County; and Timothy Butcher and Bobby Adkins, Respondents.

No. 35734.

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

Submitted January 25, 2011.
Decided May 2, 2011.

*509 David Allen Barnette, Esq., Pamela D. Tarr, Esq., Vivian H. Basdekis, Esq., Jackson Kelly, PLLC, Charleston, WV, for Petitioners.

Thomas E. Scarr, Esq., Gary A. Matthews, Esq., Jenkins Fenstermaker, PLLC, Huntington, WV, for Respondents.

PER CURIAM:

In this original jurisdiction action, the petitioners, The Lincoln Journal, Inc., Thomas A. Robinson, and Ron Gregory, seek a writ of prohibition against the Honorable F. Jane Hustead, Circuit Court of Cabell County, West Virginia, from enforcing a September 14, 2010, order compelling petitioners to reveal alleged confidential and First Amendment privileged news sources and news-gathering materials.[1] Petitioners assert that a *510 writ of prohibition is appropriate because if petitioners are forced to produce the privileged materials and reveal the identities of their confidential informants, the resulting breach of confidentiality and exposure of privileged news gathering materials will be severe and irreparable. On November 17, 2010, this Court issued a Rule to Show Cause. Respondents, Timothy Butcher and Bobby Adkins, filed a response to the petition for writ of prohibition asserting that the circuit court did not commit clear error under West Virginia law in requiring the defendants to disclose their confidential sources and that other means exist to prevent prejudice to the petitioners if disclosure is ordered. Having fully considered the record, briefs, and arguments of the parties, we find that the circuit court committed clear error in compelling petitioners to reveal alleged confidential and First Amendment privileged news sources and news-gathering materials. For the reasons set forth below, the writ of prohibition is granted as moulded and the matter is remanded with directions.

I.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On December 6, 2008, respondents filed their Complaint against the petitioners in the Circuit Court of Cabell County, West Virginia, alleging that eleven news articles reporting on the 2008 Lincoln County Primary Election and published by the Lincoln Journal from approximately April 16, 2008, to May 28, 2008, were defamatory. These articles reported an ongoing investigation by Prosecutor Stevens into alleged campaign law violations during the 2008 Lincoln County primary election, including allegations that election laws were violated by individuals who funneled or received thousands of dollars in support of candidates backed by Dan Butcher.[2] Respondents also alleged public disclosure of private facts, false light invasion of privacy, and intentional and/or negligent infliction of emotional distress related to those articles.[3]

In addition to disclosed sources, including, among others, the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney, William J. ("Jackie") Stevens, II, the articles published by the defendants contain numerous references to unidentified sources for the subject allegations, variously cited as "unnamed sources," "Lincoln Journal sources," "those reporting/complaining to the Lincoln Journal," "courthouse sources," a "source familiar with Lincoln County legal matters," and "an unnamed Charleston Attorney."[4] The subject articles reference two criminal complaints that were received by the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney, the West Virginia Secretary of State, and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, without identifying the source(s), drafter(s) and/or delivery method for the criminal complaints. The identity of the source(s) of the allegations is omitted, despite referring to the source(s) "who provided the Lincoln Journal with the complaint," "those familiar with the complaint," *511 friends of the person who filed the complaint, and the anonymous person "who prepared the complaint."

During discovery, respondents served written interrogatories upon the petitioners on August 21, 2009, requesting that petitioners disclose the identity of their confidential news sources and news-gathering materials. On September 29, 2009, petitioners responded to respondent's discovery, but objected to the disclosure of their alleged First Amendment privileged news materials and confidential sources. Petitioners asserted a qualified reporter's privilege under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and under West Virginia state law.

In response, respondents filed a motion to compel and supporting memorandum on November 13, 2009, requesting that the circuit court enter an order requiring the petitioners to fully respond to respondents' discovery requests and to disclose the requested source information. Petitioners responded to the motion to compel on November 13, 2009, asserting that the respondents had not satisfied Hudok v. Henry, 182 W.Va. 500, 389 S.E.2d 188 (1989), because respondents failed to make a "clear and specific showing that the information [sought] is highly material and relevant, necessary or critical to the maintenance of the claim, and not obtainable from other available sources." Id. at Syl. Pt. 1, 389 S.E.2d 188. Additionally, petitioners argued that respondents must make a preliminary showing of substantial falsity with respect to the allegedly defamatory allegations before disclosure would be appropriate, and that the public's interest protecting a newspaper's confidential sources outweighs respondent's private interests in compelling disclosure in this case. Respondents filed a reply arguing that the statements and allegations contained in the articles were false. Respondents argued that the deposition testimony of Prosecutor Stevens, the only alleged source identified in the subject articles, suggested that his testimony did not establish the truth and accuracy of the defamatory statements and allegations as petitioners claimed.

On January 26, 2010, the circuit court held a hearing on the respondents' motion to compel. Based upon the circuit court's review of the briefs, the arguments of counsel, and the status of discovery at that time, the court entered an order on February 12, 2010, finding that respondents' motion was "premature for failure to exhaust alternative sources," but noting that respondents could renew their motion at such time they had taken the steps to exhaust other reasonable alternative sources.

Following the circuit court's ruling, plaintiffs issued subpoenas directed to the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney, the West Virginia Secretary of State, and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia in an attempt to discover the identity of the individuals who signed the criminal complaints at issue. On May 14, 2010, respondents received denials to their subpoenas. Thereafter, respondents filed a renewed motion to compel against the petitioners, asserting that the potential alternative sources identified during the prior hearing had been exhausted, without success, and again requested that petitioners be ordered to fully respond to their discovery requests, disclosing the requested source information and material.

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Bluebook (online)
716 S.E.2d 507, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-lincoln-journal-v-hustead-wva-2011.