Brunette

Brunette v. Humane Society

Good Law
40 F. App'x 594
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitJune 28, 2002No. 00-56730; D.C. No. CV-96-04557-DTCalifornia1,304 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM *

Glenda Brunette (“Brunette”) appeals the district court’s dismissal of her complaint against Tim Dewar and the Ojai Valley News (“collectively “the Media”). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo the district court’s dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim. TwoRivers v. Lewis, 174 F.3d 987, 991 (9th Cir.1999). All factual allegations in the complaint must be accepted as true, and all reasonable inferences drawn in favor of Brunette. Id.

We hold that Brunette has alleged facts sufficient to state claims for trespass and invasion of privacy, and we reverse and remand those causes of action. We affirm the district court’s dismissal of Brunette’s other causes of action.

DISCUSSION

I Trespass

Under California law, the Media is subject to trespass liability, irrespective of whether it caused harm, if it intentionally entered land in possession of another. Miller v. Nat’l Broad. Co., 187 Cal.App.3d 1463 , 232 Cal.Rptr. 668, 677 (Cal.Ct.App. 1986). The First Amendment is not a license to trespass. See Shulman v. Group W Prods. Inc., 18 Cal.4th 200 , 74 Cal.Rptr.2d 843 , 955 P.2d 469, 496 (Cal. 1998). However, a peaceable…

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