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01/28/2015

Ohio coal king asks court to find he was defamed

From The Columbus Dispatch

A frequent flyer when it comes to filing libel suits against journalists he feels have impugned him or his company, Ohio coal king Bob Murray is not going down without a fight.

In a case that could result in a far-reaching ruling on press freedom and free speech, Murray yesterday asked the Ohio Supreme Court to reverse an appellate court ruling that upheld the dismissal of one of his defamation lawsuits.

Murray is contesting a ruling that he was not defamed by the Chagrin Valley Times when it published a story, column and editorial cartoon that Murray found unflattering and considered false.

The court found that Murray is a public figure and had not demonstrated actual malice – a knowing and reckless disregard of the truth – required to prevail. He and his lawyers disagree.

In his filing, Murray denounced the Eighth District Court of Appeals for suggesting in its opinion that Ohio needs a law to slap down nuisance lawsuits filed to discourage public or press comment on issues of public concern.

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