Two of the Triad's largest media outlets turned to Scott Gaylord, an associate professor of law and expert in constitutional law, for analysis of a defamation lawsuit filed Oct. 30 against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., by the candidate hoping to unseat her in the fall elections.
Fox 8 News and the (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record sought observations from Gaylord about the precedent for such a lawsuit, and what the plaintiff, Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan, hopes to achieve by taking to court a complaint over a controversial political ad on television.
Gaylord told reporters that the lawsuit was highly unusual and that Hagan, a public figure, would have a more difficult time than a private person in proving the political advertisement against her caused damage to her reputation and was made with malice.
To read the story in the News & Record, and to watch Gaylord’s comments to Fox 8, click on the link to the right of the page.