Collins

Filed 5/10/23

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION EIGHT

JOE E. COLLINS III, B312937

Plaintiff and Appellant, Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. 20STCV37401 v.

MAXINE WATERS et al.,

Defendants and Respondents.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Yolanda Orozco, Judge. Reversed and remanded. Law Offices of Donna Bullock and Donna C. Bullock for Plaintiff and Appellant. Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks, Lincenberg & Rhow, Gary S. Lincenberg and Thomas V. Reichert for Defendants and Respondents. ____________________ Actual malice is a term of art in defamation law. If you, with actual malice, publish falsehoods about a public figure, you forfeit the constitutional protection of New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) 376 U.S. 254, 283–288. Your actual malice means the public figure can sue you for defamation. (St. Amant v. Thompson (1968) 390 U.S. 727, 728 (St. Amant).) Blameworthy disregard for truth dissolves your constitutional shield. Actual malice, in this constitutional usage, does not mean ill will. (Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc. v.…