Time, Inc. v. Firestone
United States Supreme Court
424 U.S. 448 (1976)
After Alice Firestone's (defendant) highly publicized divorce from Firestone tire-fortune heir Russell Firestone, involving a 17-month proceeding with salacious infidelity allegations the judge found largely not credible, Time magazine (plaintiff) published a blurb inaccurately stating the divorce was granted on grounds including adultery and mischaracterizing the trial testimony; Alice sued for libel after Time refused her retraction demand, a jury awarded her $100,000, and Time appealed, arguing it could only be liable upon a showing of actual malice, the constitutional standard for statements about public figures or reports on official proceedings.
Whether, for purposes of libel law, a person who is party to a public controversy is always considered a public figure.