Results

Dentist and Dental Clinics v. Local Television Station and Reporter

March 2012

Sedgwick earned a dismissal for our clients, a local television station and one of its reporters, in Texas state court. The plaintiffs, a dentist and his dental clinics, both of whom received considerable government funding for treating young patients on Medicaid, filed suit against our clients for their broadcasts concerning the clinics and allegations of unnecessary or improper dental care for their young patients. After filing an answer that included affirmative defenses of truth or substantial truth, privilege, absence of malice, and asserting that the plaintiff dentist was a limited purpose public figure due to his receipt of considerable government funds, Sedgwick filed a motion to dismiss under the recent Texas Anti-SLAPP statute. After a hearing on the motion, the court granted the Anti-SLAPP motion and dismissed the plaintiffs' claims.