Jones vs. Enquirer

363 Words2 Pages
Business Ethics Case What kind of paper is the National Enquirer? The National Enquires is a tabloid magazine founded in 1926 by William Griffin, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. The magazine covers a variety of topics; however, is mostly known for its articles on celebrity gossip, scandals, and current events. The magazine attracts attention by embellishing on such articles. Over the years, they have had numerous civil suits by personalities for defamation and invasion of privacy. The publication is weekly and is sold in grocery stores across the United States at reasonably low cost. They had a total circulation of above five million at the time of the Calder v Jones case with 600,000 of those issues sold in California, twice the amount of any other state (Roldan, 1985). The Enquirer is notorious to advertise and pay informants for any celebrity gossip. They are also known for their catch phrase “Enquiring minds want to know!” Was it ethical for the National Enquirer to try to avoid suit in California? No, California, was the focus of attention on the plaintiff and the story. The story was based off a resident who is considered a “public figure” and whose television career and reputation is concentrated in California. The Enquirer intentionally published an article that may have jeopardized the plaintiff’s future career and potential earnings internationally. Are the defendants subject to suit in California? Why or why not? Yes, the defendants are subject to suit in the state of California under personal jurisdiction because their actions in Florida caused injury to the plaintiff in California. The states long-arm statute permits jurisdiction in this case. This statute allows a state to exercise jurisdiction over an out-of state resident who was not served a summons within the state, sufficient minimum contact, and where business

More about Jones vs. Enquirer

Open Document