Prof. Kirtley Praises Minnesota Supreme Court Libel Ruling in Star Tribune

Professor Jane Kirtley was quoted in a Star Tribune article about the Minnesota Supreme Court's ruling in McKee v. Laurion, a suit brought by a Duluth physician who claimed that a comment about him on a rate-your-doctor website defamed him. Justice Alan Page (’78) concluded that the comments, including a quotation referring to the doctor as "a real tool," were statements of opinion, not fact. Noting that the ruling stems from "an elementary principle of libel law," Kirtley dismissed assertions that the decision will permit false disparaging comments to be posted without liability. "I understand the rhetoric, but this is not a blank check for people to make false statements. Rather, it's an endorsement that statements of opinion are protected under the First Amendment," she said.