Isabella Carter
Richard Allensworth Jewell, born Richard White, was an American security guard and law enforcement officer who played a crucial role in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, Georgia. Initially hailed as a hero for alerting authorities and facilitating the evacuation of bystanders, Jewell soon found himself under the scrutiny of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the media, who treated him as a suspect. This intense media focus, led by publications like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, took a significant toll on Jewell's life, leading to a series of lawsuits filed by Jewell against various media organisations. While Jewell reached settlements with some outlets, including CNN, NBC, and an Atlanta radio station, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notably did not settle and continued to defend its reporting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did the Atlanta Constitution settle with Richard Jewell? | No |
| Richard Jewell's lawsuit against | Piedmont College, its president Raymond Cleere, and college spokesman Scott Rawles |
| Reason for the lawsuit | Providing false information on Jewell and his employment there as a security guard |
| Outcome of the lawsuit | Settled for an undisclosed amount |
| The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's response to the film Richard Jewell | Unhappy with the portrayal of the paper and its reporter Kathy Scruggs |
| Reason for unhappiness | The film implied that Scruggs slept with an FBI agent for information |
| Demanded a disclaimer from Warner Bros. | Yes, stating that artistic license was taken in its depiction of Scruggs’s and the paper’s reporting |
| Outcome of the demand | Refusal from Warner Bros. |
| The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's lawsuit against Richard Jewell | Refusal to disclose confidential sources |
| Reason for refusal | Protected by the First Amendment and by statute |
| Outcome of the lawsuit | Ruled in favour of the defendant (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |
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What You'll Learn
- Richard Jewell sued the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for defamation
- Jewell's lawsuit against the AJC remained pending for several years
- Jewell settled with Piedmont College, his former employer
- Jewell's lawsuit against the AJC was dismissed in 2011
- The AJC was the only defendant that did not settle with Jewell
Richard Jewell sued the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for defamation
In his lawsuit, Jewell argued that the newspaper's headline, "FBI suspects 'hero' guard may have planted bomb," had "started the whirlwind" of aggressive media focus on him as the presumed culprit. He also took issue with an article in which the Journal-Constitution compared his case to that of serial killer Wayne Williams. Jewell's lawsuit against the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was part of a broader effort to vindicate his reputation, which had been damaged by the negative media coverage.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, however, defended its reporting as "fair, accurate, and responsible." The newspaper argued that it was simply reporting on the FBI's investigation and that it had no obligation to reveal its confidential sources. The case, "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution v. Jewell," raised important legal questions about the balance between an individual's right to defamation and the press's right to protect its sources.
The lawsuit remained pending for several years and was even considered by the Supreme Court of Georgia. Jewell continued to pursue the case even after his death in 2007, with his estate pressing the matter. Finally, in July 2011, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled in favour of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, concluding that "because the articles in their entirety were substantially true at the time they were published—even though the investigators' suspicions were ultimately deemed unfounded—they cannot form the basis of a defamation action."
It is worth noting that Jewell also filed lawsuits against other media outlets, including CNN, NBC, and an Atlanta radio station, and reached monetary settlements with some of them. Additionally, he sued his former employer, Piedmont College, and its president and spokesman, alleging that they provided false information about him to the media.
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Jewell's lawsuit against the AJC remained pending for several years
Richard Jewell's lawsuit against the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) remained pending for several years. Jewell sued the newspaper for defamation, alleging that its reporting and headline ("FBI suspects 'hero' guard may have planted bomb") portrayed him as a suspect in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing. He argued that the AJC's coverage caused him significant harm and anguish, damaging his reputation and personal life.
The AJC, however, defended its reporting as "fair, accurate, and responsible." They also refused to disclose the identities of their confidential sources, citing journalistic privilege and protection under the First Amendment. This refusal led to legal challenges and contempt orders against the newspaper and its reporters. The case raised important questions about the protection of journalistic sources and the extent to which journalists can rely on law enforcement sources without independently verifying information.
The lawsuit became an important part of case law regarding whether journalists could be forced to reveal their sources. The Georgia Court of Appeals eventually ruled in favour of the AJC, concluding that "because the articles in their entirety were substantially true at the time they were published—even though the investigators' suspicions were ultimately deemed unfounded—they cannot form the basis of a defamation action." This ruling affirmed the importance of journalistic confidentiality and the right of journalists to protect their sources.
While Jewell settled lawsuits and reached monetary agreements with other media outlets, including CNN, NBC, and an Atlanta radio station, his estate continued to pursue the case against the AJC even after his death in 2007. The prolonged nature of the lawsuit reflected the complex legal and ethical issues at play, as well as the significant impact that the media coverage had on Jewell's life.
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Jewell settled with Piedmont College, his former employer
Richard Jewell was an American security guard and law enforcement officer who first discovered a backpack containing three pipe bombs in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics. He helped evacuate the area before the bomb exploded, saving many people from injury or death. Jewell was initially hailed as a hero by the media, but soon the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began to suspect him of planting the bomb based on psychological profiling. Jewell experienced a "trial by media", which took a toll on his personal and professional life.
After being cleared of suspicion in the fall of 1996, Jewell filed libel suits against several media companies, including NBC News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CNN, the New York Post, and his former employer, Piedmont College. Jewell alleged that Piedmont College provided false information to the media and that its president, Raymond Cleere, and spokesman, Scott Rawles, made defamatory statements about him to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Jewell's lawsuit against Piedmont College specifically accused the college president, Raymond Cleere, of describing him as a "badge-wearing zealot" who "would write epic police reports for minor infractions." Jewell's attorneys contended that Cleere provided false information about Jewell and his employment as a security guard at the college.
Piedmont College settled the lawsuit with Jewell for an undisclosed amount of money. Jewell's attorney, Lin Wood, announced that the college would be dropped from Jewell's libel suit against the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but he declined to disclose the details of the settlement or the amount of money Jewell received.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, however, remained the only defendant that did not settle with Jewell. The lawsuit continued for several years, even after Jewell's death in 2007, and in July 2011, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled in favour of the defendant, concluding that the articles published by the newspaper were substantially true at the time of their publication.
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Jewell's lawsuit against the AJC was dismissed in 2011
Richard Jewell's lawsuit against the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) was dismissed in 2011 by the Georgia Court of Appeals. The lawsuit was filed by Jewell against the newspaper for its coverage of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing and his involvement as a suspect. Jewell argued that the AJC defamed him and sought the disclosure of their confidential sources. The AJC, on the other hand, maintained that their reporting was "fair, accurate, and responsible" and that they had no obligation to reveal their sources.
The case, officially known as "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution v. Jewell," became an important part of case law regarding the protection of journalists' sources and the rights of individuals involved in media coverage. The AJC argued that their communications with confidential sources were privileged and protected by the First Amendment and statutes. The court agreed, citing that journalists should be allowed to protect their sources unless disclosure is necessary for important legal purposes.
The lawsuit also addressed the issue of Jewell's status as a limited-purpose public figure. The court affirmed that Jewell became a public figure due to his voluntary engagement with the media and public discourse following the bombing. This status impacted the legal standards for defamation, requiring Jewell to prove actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth in the AJC's reporting.
Despite the dismissal of the lawsuit, the case had a significant impact on media ethics and the portrayal of individuals in the news. The controversy surrounding the coverage of Jewell led to discussions about the responsibility of journalists and the potential consequences of their actions. The case highlighted the power of the media in shaping public perception, as Jewell's image went from hero to suspect in the eyes of the public due to the AJC's reporting.
The portrayal of the AJC in the 2019 movie "Richard Jewell," directed by Clint Eastwood, also sparked debate. The movie depicted the newspaper and its reporter, Kathy Scruggs, in a negative light, implying unethical behaviour and reckless reporting. The AJC strongly objected to this portrayal, arguing that it was inaccurate and defamatory and demanded a disclaimer from the filmmakers.
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The AJC was the only defendant that did not settle with Jewell
Richard Jewell was a security guard and law enforcement officer who, during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, discovered a backpack containing three pipe bombs in Centennial Olympic Park and helped evacuate the area before the bomb exploded, saving many people from injury or death. Jewell was initially hailed as a hero by the media, but three days later, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) revealed that the FBI was treating him as a possible suspect. For the next several weeks, the news media aggressively focused on Jewell as the presumed culprit, describing him as a "person of interest" and a "failed law enforcement officer".
Jewell filed a lawsuit against the AJC, claiming that the paper's headline ("FBI suspects 'hero' guard may have planted bomb") had "pretty much started the whirlwind". Jewell also sought the disclosure of the AJC's confidential sources, which the newspaper refused to provide, arguing that these communications were privileged and protected by the First Amendment. The AJC's lawyers contended that Jewell was a limited-purpose public figure and that the newspaper had no obligation to disclose its sources. The Court of Appeals of Georgia agreed with the AJC, vacating the trial court's orders requiring disclosure of the confidential sources.
Jewell also filed suit against his former employer, Piedmont College, and several individuals, including Piedmont College President Raymond Cleere and college spokesman Scott Rawles. Jewell accused Cleere and Rawles of providing false information about him and his employment to the FBI and the Atlanta newspapers. These lawsuits were settled for an undisclosed amount. Jewell also reached monetary settlements with several media outlets, including CNN, NBC, and an Atlanta radio station.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Richard Jewell sued the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for defamation, alleging that the paper's headline ("FBI suspects 'hero' guard may have planted bomb") was responsible for the media frenzy that followed.
No, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only defendant that did not settle with Richard Jewell. The lawsuit remained pending for several years and was even considered by the Supreme Court of Georgia. In July 2011, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled in favour of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, concluding that the articles published by the newspaper were "substantially true at the time they were published".
Yes, Richard Jewell received settlements from his former employer, Piedmont College, as well as from major media outlets including CNN, NBC, and the New York Post. The specific amounts of these settlements were not disclosed.
