Alszeh

*1459 Opinion

The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of respondents on appellants’ claims of libel and invasion of privacy. We conclude that there is no triable issue about whether appellants were defamed, and therefore affirm.

Factual and Procedural Background

The parties do not dispute the following facts: In the early 1990’s, appellant Juda Alszeh operated a business named “J&J Imports” in partnership with Jacob Orgad, who is sometimes called “Cookie.” After a year or two, the partnership dissolved. Orgad then operated a store under the name “J&J Beepers,” and Alszeh began doing business as “J&J The King of Beepers.”

Alszeh sells beepers, beeper services and cellular telephones through corporate appellants The King of Beepers—L.A., Inc., The King of Beepers—Orange, Inc., J&J The King of Beepers—Las Vegas, Inc., and J&J Beepers, Inc. He advertises his businesses by means of large billboards in which Alszeh is depicted wearing a king’s robe and crown.

Respondents Nick Broomfield and his production company, Lafayette Film, Ltd., are the creators of a documentary film entitled Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam (Paramount 1996). Respondent Home Box Office (hereafter HBO)…