sarah jones v. nik richie - jury instructions & verdict forms
TRANSCRIPT
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 1/18
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
NORTHERN DIVISION Eastern District ofKentucky
AT COVINGTON F I LED
JUL 11 2013AT COVINGTON
ROBERT R. CARRCIVIL ACTION NO. 2009-219 (WOB-JGW)CLERK U.S. DISTRICT COURT
SARAH JONES PLAINTIFF
VS. JURY INSTRUCTIONS
HOOMAN KARAMIANa lso known as Nik Rich ie
and a lso known as
Corbin Grimes
and
DIRTY WORLD, LLC
doing business as
TheDirty.Com DEFENDANTS
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 1 of 18 - Page ID#:3116
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 2/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 1
You are the so le judges of the c red i b i l i t y of the witnesses
and the weight t he i r test imony deserves . You may be guided by the
appearance and conduct of the wi tness , o r by th e manner in which
the witness t e s t i f i e s , o r by the charac te r o f the tes t imony given,
o r by evidence con t ra ry to the tes t imony.
You should ca re fu l ly examine a l l the tes t imony given, th e
circumstances under which each witness has t e s t i f i ed , and whether
every mat te r in evidence tending to show whether a witness i s
worthy of b e l i e f . Consider each witnesses ' i n t e l l i gence , motive and
s t a t e of mind, and demeanor o r manner while t e s t i f y ing . Consider
the witnesses ' a b i l i t y to observe the mat te rs as to which the
wi tness has t e s t i f i e d , and whether the wi tness impresses you as
having an accura te reco l l ec t ion of these mat te rs . Also, cons ider
any re la t ion each witness may have with e i t h e r s ide of the case ,
the manner in which each witness might be af fected by the verd ic t ,
and the ex ten t which the tes t imony o f each witness i s e i the r
supported o r con t rad ic t ed by othe r evidence in th e case.
Incons i s t enc ies o r discrepancies in test imony of a witness , o r
between th e tes t imony o f d i f f e r e n t witnesses m a y o r may no t cause
you to discredit such testimony. Two or more persons seeing an
even t may see o r hear it d i f f e r e n t l y .
In weighing the e f f e c t of a discrepancy , always consider
whether it per t a ins to a mat te r o f importance o r an unimportant
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 2 of 18 - Page ID#:3117
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 3/18
de ta i l , and whether the discrepancy r e su l t s from innocent e r ro r o r
in t en t i o n a l falsehood.
After making your own judgment, you w i l l give the testimony of
each witness such weight , i f any, t h a t you th ink it deserves . In
shor t , you may accep t o r r e j e c t th e tes t imony of any witness , in
whole o r in p a r t . In addi t ion , th e weight of the evidence i s no t
necessar i ly determined by the number of witnesses t e s t i fy ing to the
ex i s tence o r nonexis tence o f any f a c t . You may f ind t h a t th e
tes t imony o f a smal l number of witnesses as to any f ac t i s more
c red ib le than th e tes t imony of a l a rge number of witnesses to th e
con t ra ry .
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 3 of 18 - Page ID#:3118
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 4/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 2
You must decide th i s case as an act ion between persons of
equal s tanding and worth in the community, and holding the same or
s imi la r s ta t ions in l i f e . A business ent i ty i s en t i t l ed to the
same f a i r t r i a l in your hands as a pr iva te ind iv idua l . A ll
persons, inc luding business e n t i t i e s , s tand equal before the law,
and are to be dea l t with as equals in a cour t of j u s t i ce .
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 4 of 18 - Page ID#:3119
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 5/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 3
Defendants, when they re -pub l i shed the mat te rs in evidence ,
had the same du t ies and l i ab i l i t i e s fo r re -pub l i sh ing l ibe lous
mater ia l as the au thor o f such mater ia l s .
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 5 of 18 - Page ID#:3120
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 6/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 4
In order to recover fo r a defamatory s tatement , the p la in t i f f ,
Sarah Jones, must show the s ta tement i s : (1) f a c i a l l y defamatory,
(2 ) untrue, and (3 ) t ha t the defamatory s ta tement was made with
ac tua l mal ice .
I f untrue, a s ta tement would be l i b e l i f it would: (1) br ing
the person about whom the s ta tement i s made in to publ ic hat red ,
contempt o r r i d i c u l e I (2 ) cause th e person to be shunned o r
avoided, o r (3) in ju re th e person in t he i r business o r occupat ion.
A defamatory s ta tement can be sa id to have been made with
ac tua l malice only i f it was made with knowledge t h a t it was fa lse
o r with reck le s s d i s rega rd of whether it was fa l se o r not .
That i s to say t ha t ac tua l malice en t a i l s more than mere
neg l igence . It requ i re s t h a t the publ i she r of the defamatory
fa lsehood a t the t ime of the pub l ica t ion ente r ta ined ser ious doubts
as to th e t r u th of the publ ished mate r i a l .
Actual malice must be shown by c l ea r and convincing evidence.
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 6 of 18 - Page ID#:3121
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 7/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 5
Under th e F i r s t Amendment, there i s no such th ing as a "false
idea . " This means t h a t every person in th e United Sta tes i s
ent i t l ed to express his or her own personal opinions, even i f those
opin ions a re of fens ive .
In order to pro tec t the r ight to freedom o f speech, defamatory
s ta tements cannot be based on express ions of opin ion , even if th e
opinion i s h u r t fu l , mean, o r in su l t ing . Rather , a defamatory
s ta tement must be based on a f a l se s ta tement of f ac t .
Expressions of opinion are en t i t l ed to s t rong p ro tec t ion under
the F i r s t Amendment. Therefore , a s ta tement o f opinion cannot
support a defamation cla im unless the speaker 's opinion a l so implies
th e exis tence of undisclosed fac ts which are themselves defamatory.
I f a speaker expresses an opin ion based on f ac t s which a re
d i sc losed , then th e speaker 's opinion i s pro tec t ed and cannot
suppor t a defamat ion c la im.
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 7 of 18 - Page ID#:3122
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 8/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 6
You have been in s t ruc ted t h a t in orde r to recover the
Pl a i n t i f f must prove t ha t the s ta tements publ ished were mater ia l ly
fa l se . That i s to say t ha t subs tan t i a l t r u th i s a defense to
defamation, even i f the a l legedly defamatory sta tement was made
with o r in sp i red by malice o r ill wi l l or i s l ibe lous p e r se .
In considering the t ru th as a defense , you are ins t ruc ted t ha t
subs tan t ia l t r u th provides a defense to defamation even i f what was
publ ished i s n ot th e prec i se o r exac t t r u th . Ra t he r minor
inaccurac ies do not amount to fa l s i ty as long as the substance, the
g i s t , o r the s t i ng of the l ibe lous charge i s j u s t i f i ed . Put
another way, the s ta tement i s not considered fa lse unless it would
have a d i f f e r e n t e f f e c t on the mindof
the reader than the t r u th
would have produced.
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 8 of 18 - Page ID#:3123
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 9/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 7
A s ta tement t h a t contains hyperbole (exaggera t ion) may be
l ibe lous i f the jury be l ieves from the evidence t ha t a reasonable
person could i n t e rp r e t it as implying fa l se s ta tements of fac t .
Ogle v. Hocker, 279 F. App'x 391, 397 (6th Cir . 2008) (and cases
c i t e d the re in) .
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 9 of 18 - Page ID#:3124
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 10/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 8
A s tatement i s not defamatory unless it i s "of and concerning"
the p l a i n t i f f individual ly_ This means t h a t a s ta tement which
c r i t i c i z e s a l a rge group o f people w i l l not support a defamation
claim by each i nd iv idua l member o f t h a t group. This type o f
genera l s t a tement i s not "of and concerning" a n y o n e person and,
t he re fo re , i s not ac t ionable .
So, fo r example, a s ta tement t h a t "a l l lawyers are shysters"
would not permit every lawyer in th e country to sue fo r defamation
because t h i s s tatement was not "of and concerning" anyone spec i f i c
person; it was a genera l comment regarding a l a rge group.
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 10 of 18 - Page ID#:3125
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 11/18
INSTRUCTION NO.9
The fo l lowing a re in s t ruc t ions on Pla in t i f f ' s claim fo r
damages. However, you should not i n t e rp re t the f a c t t h a t you are
given in s t ruc t ions concerning the Pla in t i f f ' s damage claim as
ind ica t ing t h a t P l a i n t i f f should, o r should not , preva i l i n t h i s
case . I t i s your task to determine whether Defendants are l i a b l e .
You are being i n s t ruc ted on damages only so t ha t you w i l l have
guidance in the even t you decide t h a t Defendants are l i a b l e and
t h a t P l a i n t i f f i s en t i t l ed to recover money from Defendants .
However, any damages you award must have a reasonable bas i s in
the evidence . Damages need not be mathematical ly exac t , but there
must be enough evidence fo r you to make a reasonable es t imate of
damages without specula t ion o r guess work.
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 11 of 18 - Page ID#:3126
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 12/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 10
Defendants are no t l i ab le fo r any ai lments Pl a i n t i f f may
su f f e r from those t ha t were caused by anything o ther than any
wrongful ac t ions by Defendants . Simi la r ly , any physica l o r
emotional i n ju r i e s tha t you f ind are a t t r ibu tab le to a cause other
than any wrongful ac t ions by Defendants are not p a r t of th i s act ion
and should not be considered by you.
I f you f ind t ha t th e in jur ie s of which P l a i n t i f f complains
were caused by something o r someone othe r than Defendants, then
Defendants are no t l i ab le fo r such i n ju r i e s .
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 12 of 18 - Page ID#:3127
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 13/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 11
Puni t ive Damages means damages, o ther than compensatory and
nominal damages, awarded aga ins t a person to punish and to
discourage him and others from s imi la r conduct in the fu ture . You
may award Pl a i n t i f f puni t ive damages only i f she has proven by the
evidence t ha t Defendants acted toward Pla in t i f f with oppression,
fraud o r malice . "Oppression" means conduct which i s spec i f i ca l ly
intended by the defendan t to subject the p l a i n t i f f to c rue l and
unjus t hardship . "Fraud" means an i n t en t iona l misrepresenta t ion ,
dece i t , o r concealment of mater ia l fac t known to the defendant and
made with the i n t en t ion of causing in jury to the p l a i n t i f f .
"Malice" means conduct which i s spec i f ica l ly intended by the
defendant to cause t angible or in tangible in jury to the p la in t i f f .
I f you f ind from th e evidence t ha t Defendants acted toward
Pl a i n t i f f with oppression, f raud o r malice, then you may in your
d i sc re t ion award pun i t ive damages to Pla in t i f f .
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 13 of 18 - Page ID#:3128
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 14/18
INSTRUCTION NO. 12
I f you determine t h a t puni t ive damages should be awarded, you
sh a l l then determine th e sum of puni t ive damages. In determining
the amount o f puni t ive damages to be assessed, you should consider
th e fol lowing f ac to r s :
(a) The l ike l ihood a t the re l evan t t ime t h a t se r ious harm
would a r i s e from the defendants ' misconductj
(b) The degree o f the defendants ' awareness o f t h a t
l ike l ihood j
(c) The p r o f i t a b i l i t y o f th e misconduct by th e defendants j
(d) The dura t ion of the misconduct and any concealment 'of it
by th e defendan ts i and
(e) Any ac t ions by th e defendants to remedy th e misconduct
once it became known to the defendants .
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 14 of 18 - Page ID#:3129
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 15/18
SPECIAL VERDICT
please answer the fol lowing ques t ions according to the
Ins t ruc t ions given:
1 . Has the p la in t i f f , Sarah Jones, proved tha t any of the
defamatory pos t ings concerning her descr ibed in the evidence were
subs tan t ia l ly fa l se a t the t ime they were posted?
Yes .;:;? No
NOTE: I f you answered Question 1 "NO," please re turn to the
courtroom. I f you answered Question 1 "YES," please cont inue to
answer the fol lowing Question. .
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 15 of 18 - Page ID#:3130
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 16/18
2. Do you f ind by c l e a r and convincing evidence t ha t the
fa l se post ings were made with the Defendants ' ac tua l knowledge of
t h e i r f a l s i t y o r reckless d is regard for the t ru th?
Yes No
Foreperson
NOTE: I f you answered Question 2 "NO," please re tu rn to the
courtroom. I f you answered Question 2 "YES," please proceed to thenext Quest ion.
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 16 of 18 - Page ID#:3131
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 17/18
3. What sum in damages do you f ind fo r the p l a i n t i f f , Sarah
Jones, to compensate he r fo r her mental anguish and damage to he r
repu ta t ion as a proximate r e s u l t o f sa id fa l se post ings? Such
damages sha l l not be awarded fo r any period a f t e r February 1, 2011.
4. I f you answered Quest ion No.3 with an amount, do you, in
your d i s c r e t i on , wish to award puni t ive damages to th e P l a i n t i f f ,
under Ins t ruc t ions 11 and 12 above?
Yes No
Foreperson
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 17 of 18 - Page ID#:3132
7/28/2019 Sarah Jones v. Nik Richie - Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sarah-jones-v-nik-richie-jury-instructions-verdict-forms 18/18
5. I f you answered Question No. 4 "YES," what sum in punitive
damages do you wish to award to the Plaint i f f , Sarah Jones, under
Ins t ruct ions 11 and 12 above?
Foreperson
Case: 2:09-cv-00219-WOB-CJS Doc #: 207 Filed: 07/11/13 Page: 18 of 18 - Page ID#:3133