Ventura v. Kyle

Navy SEAL and author Chris Kyle (defendant) wrote in his autobiography American Sniper that he punched and knocked out an individual he called "Scruff Face" — later admitted to be Jesse Ventura (plaintiff), a former wrestler, actor, and Minnesota governor — after Scruff Face allegedly said the SEALs deserved to lose soldiers in Iraq; Kyle also wrote it was rumored Ventura had a black eye afterward. Ventura sued for defamation; Kyle presented two corroborating witnesses, while Ventura presented several refuting witnesses and photographs from the following day showing no injuries. Kyle was killed during the litigation, and his wife, as executrix, moved for summary judgment, arguing the statements weren't false and Kyle didn't act with actual malice.