Opinion
J-A15002-17 No. 100 MDA 2017
10-10-2017
MENITES, INC., D/B/A THEO'S BAR AND GRILLE, THEODORE KALATHAS, AND MOSCA KALATHAS Appellants v. WHTM ABC27 NEWS, MEDIA GENERAL, INC., JAMES CRUMMEL, AMANDA ST. HILAIRE Appellee
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
Appeal from the Order Entered December 14, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County
Civil Division at No(s): 2016-00116 BEFORE: MOULTON, J., SOLANO, J., and MUSMANNO, J. MEMORANDUM BY MOULTON, J.:
Menites, Inc. d/b/a Theo's Bar and Grille, Theodore Kalathas, and Mosca Kalathas (collectively, "Appellants") appeal from the December 14, 2016 order entered in the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas granting the motion for judgment on the pleadings of WHTM ABC27 News, Media General, Inc., James Crummel, and Amanda St. Hilaire (collectively, "ABC27"). We affirm.
The trial court summarized the factual and procedural history of this matter as follows:
[On January 7, 2016, Appellants] filed this action for defamation/libel and false light against ABC27 seeking damages as a result of allegedly defamatory statements about [Appellants] which were broadcast on December 18,
2015. The news report in question discussed the results of a health inspection done by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Agriculture in a segment called "Restaurant Report."Opinion and Order of Court, 12/14/16, at 1-3 (footnotes omitted) ("Trial Ct. Op."). On December 14, 2016, the trial court granted ABC27's motion and dismissed Appellants' complaint. Appellants timely filed a notice of appeal.
The health inspection report states that there was "Round-up weed killer stored next to food in the kitchen area," "brown residue inside the soda gun holders at the bar and at the waitress station," "dried food residue around the inside guard on the floor mixer," and "pink residue on the deflector plate inside the ice machine."
The news report said: "Well, do you like your dinner with a side of weed killer? We didn't think so. Neither do restaurant inspectors from the Department of Agriculture;" "want dinner with a side of weed killer?" "weed killer stored near food," "brown residue built up in the soda nozzle at the bar," "dried food residue caked on the floor," and "pink slimy residue inside the ice machine."
Specifically, [Appellants] allege that the health inspection report did not say: dinner was served with a side of weed killer; that brown residue was "built up" anywhere or on anything; that anything was found on the floor; that the words "caked" and "slimy" were ever used.
After responding to the complaint, [ABC27] filed a motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on May 13, 2016, arguing that they are protected by the Fair Report Privilege as they were reporting on an official report and they gave a fair and accurate summary of the state health inspection report, that the news reports are not "of and concerning" the Kalathases because the News Report does not even mention them, and that corporate entities cannot state an invasion of privacy claim because false light can only be maintained by a living individual, not corporate entities.
Appellants raise the following issues on appeal:
I. Whether the Court committed an error of law and abused its discretion in concluding that no triable facts exist to support that [ABC27] forfeited their fair report privilege?Appellants' Br. at 4 (footnote omitted).
II. Whether the Court committed an error of law and abused its discretion in concluding the news reports were not "of and concerning" [Theodore Kalathasas and Mosca Kalathas], and that no triable facts exist to suggest otherwise?
III. Whether the Court committed an error of law and abused its discretion in concluding that a corporate entity cannot make a false light claim?
We review the grant of a motion for judgment on the pleadings as follows:
Entry of judgment on the pleadings is permitted under Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1034, which provides that "after the pleadings are closed, but within such time as not to unreasonably delay trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings." Pa.R.C.P. 1034(a). A motion for judgment on the pleadings is similar to a demurrer. It may be entered when there are no disputed issues of fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.Southwestern Energy Prod. Co. v. Forest Res., LLC , 83 A.3d 177, 185 (Pa.Super. 2013) (quoting Coleman v. Duane Morris , LLP , 58 A.3d 833, 836 (Pa.Super. 2012)).
Appellate review of an order granting a motion for judgment on the pleadings is plenary. The appellate court will apply the same standard employed by the trial court. A trial court must confine its consideration to the pleadings and relevant documents. The court must accept as true all well pleaded statements of fact, admissions, and any documents properly attached to the pleadings presented by the party against whom the motion is filed, considering only those facts which were specifically admitted.
We will affirm the grant of such a motion only when the moving party's right to succeed is certain and the case is so free from doubt that the trial would clearly be a fruitless exercise.
Appellants first contend that the trial court erred and abused its discretion in concluding that there were no triable facts as to whether whether ABC27 forfeited its fair report privilege. We have previously stated:
Pennsylvania courts recognize the "fair report privilege." DeMary v. Latrobe Printing & Publ'g Co., 762 A.2d 758 (Pa.Super.2000), appeal denied, . . . 786 A.2d 988 (2001). Under this privilege, media defendants have qualified immunity from defamation liability when they report on official governmental proceedings. Id. The fair report privilege extends to court pleadings, such as a complaint. First Lehigh Bank v. Cowen , 700 A.2d 498, 502 (Pa.Super.1997). The DeMary Court succinctly described the scope of the privilege, and its limitations, as follows:
In Pennsylvania, the fair report privilege protects the press from liability for the publication of defamatory material if the published material reports on an official action or proceeding. See Sciandra v. Lynett , . . . 187 A.2d 586, 588 (Pa.1963); Mosley v. Observer Pub. Co., . . . 629 A.2d 965, 967 (Pa.Super.1993). No responsibility attaches so long as the account of the official action or proceeding is fair, accurate and complete, and is not published "solely for the purpose of causing harm to the person defamed." Sciandra , 187 A.2d at 589. See also RESTATEMENT (FIRST) OF TORTS § 611. "However, this qualified immunity is forfeited if the publisher steps out of the scope of the privilege or abuses the 'occasion.' This can be done by exaggerated additions, or
embellishments to the account." Id. at 600, 187 A.2d 586. See also Mosley , 629 A.2d at 969.
Id. at 763.Weber v. Lancaster Newspapers , Inc., 878 A.2d 63, 72 (Pa.Super. 2005) (footnote omitted).
The defendant abuses the fair report privilege if the article carries a materially greater "sting" than a precisely accurate retelling of the public proceeding itself. First Lehigh Bank , 700 A.2d at 503. Generally, the question of whether the privilege has been abused is a question of fact for the jury. Id. The trial court may make that determination as a matter of law, where the evidence is so clear that it points to only one reasonable conclusion. Id.
The trial court found that ABC27 did not abuse, and thus forfeit, its fair report privilege because the news report did not produce a greater "gist" or "sting" than the health inspection report prepared by the Department of Agriculture upon which ABC27's report was based. After reviewing the parties' briefs, the certified record, and the relevant law, we conclude that ABC27 did not forfeit its fair report privilege with respect to the news report at issue. We agree with and adopt the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Albert H. Masland. See Trial Ct. Op. at 4-8.
Appellants next claim that the trial court erred and abused its discretion in concluding that the news reports were not "of and concerning" Theodore and Mosca Kalathas (collectively, "Kalathases"). Because, as discussed above, the fair report privilege protects ABC27 from defamation claims arising out of the news report in question, the Kalathases' defamation claims fail even assuming the news report was "of and concerning" them. Accordingly, we need not consider whether the news reports were "of and concerning" the Kalathases.
Finally, we conclude that Appellants have waived their issue concerning the false light claim by failing to include it in their Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal. Forest Highlands Community Ass'n v. Hammer , 879 A.2d 223, 226 n.2 (Pa.Super. 2005) (citing Commonwealth v. Lord , 719 A.2d 306 (Pa.Super. 1998)).
Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court properly granted ABC27's motion for judgment on the pleadings.
Order affirmed. Judgment Entered. /s/_________
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary Date: 10/10/2017
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