Patrick Reed, whose $750 million lawsuit against Gannett and other media outlets that was dismissed twice, has been ordered to pay attorney fees and costs to the defendants.
In addition to Gannett, the other defendants are Golfweek, Associated Press national golf writer Doug Ferguson, Golfweek columnist Eamon Lynch, Golf Channel commentators Brandel Chamblee and Damon Hack and golf reporter Shane Ryan.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan also denied motions by Reed for Corrigan to recuse himself and to reconsider his earlier dismissal, with prejudice.
Corrigan dismissed the suit for a second time on Sept. 27, 2023.
The ruling was first reported by Andrew Pantanzi, editor of The Tributary.
Ruling here: https://t.co/QjtaB5Mv8h
— Andrew Pantazi (@apantazi) January 5, 2024
Suit had originally been filed in Houston
Corrigan ordered the law firms representing the defendants to file a motion for the fees and costs. Reed has until Feb. 23 to respond.
“Reed seeks solely to relitigate past arguments, old matters, and case law previously considered by the Court,” Corrigan wrote in his ruling. “He argues the Court ignored case law he cited and misstated the law. This is incorrect. The Court carefully reviewed and heard the briefs and arguments presented before issuing the dispositive Order.
Reed had initially filed the suit in Houston, where he resides, then refiled in Jacksonville.
Reed alleged the defendants committed “conspiracy, defamation, injurious falsehood and tortious interference and that the defenders had acted ‘in concert as joint tortfeasors.'” Reed had come under criticism for rules issues in tournaments and for joining the LIV Golf League.
Judge ruled commentary fell within First Amendment
“Many of the statements are not about Reed. Some statements are about LIV Golf, of which Reed is a member, but not specifically about Reed,” Corrigan wrote in his dismissal in September. “Others are matters of opinion or permissible rhetorical hyperbole. Still others are statements of fact, the truth of which are not challenged.”
Larry Klayman, Reed’s attorney, stated, “The PGA Tour’s and its ‘partner’ the NBC’s Golf Channel’s mission is to destroy a top LIV Golf Tour player, his family, as well as all of the LIV Golf players, to further their agenda and alleged collaborative efforts to destroy the new LIV Golf Tour.”
“As alleged in the Complaint, these calculated malicious attacks have created hate, aided and abetted a hostile workplace environment, and have caused substantial financial and emotional damage and harm to Mr. Reed and his family.”
Corrigan responded: “Reed does not meet the required pleading of actual malice to hold the press liable for defamation. While Reed may be frustrated at the negative media coverage he receives [some of which seems over the top], under Florida law and the First Amendment, Reed fails to bring actionable defamation claims and his cases therefore must be dismissed.”
Corrigan reiterated in his latest ruling that the defendants “exercised the constitutional right of free speech” in their publications about Reed as a public figure.
