Calder vs. Jones

3.5 Business Ethics The National Enquirer, Inc., is a Florida corporation with its principal place of business in Florida. It publishes the National Enquirer, a national weekly newspaper with a total circulation of more than 5 million copies. About 600,000 copies, almost twice the level in the next highest state, are sold in California. The National Enquirer published an article about Shirley Jones, an entertainer. Jones, a California resident, filed a lawsuit in California state court against the National Enquirer and its president, who was a resident of Florida. The California lawsuit sought damages for alleged defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Calder v. Jones, 465 U.S. 783, 104 S.Ct. 1482, 79 L.Ed.2d 804, Web 1984 U.S. Lexis 4 (Supreme Court of the United States)

What kind of paper is the National Enquirer?

In 1926 The National Enquirer was founded by William Griffin. The National Enquirer is a weekly magazine that provides stories of famous, and those trying to become famous, people. It includes stories of their personal lives and has a tendency to exaggerate the truth. The Enquirer will go out of its way to pay those for juicy stories, and fowl pictures. They like following celebrities around, digging up dirt and letting the whole world know. With their poor reputation, their source of information is not a reliable one. Many people find themselves reading the magazine purely for entertainment purposes and nothing more.

Was it ethical for the National Enquirer to try to avoid suit in California?

Since the National Enquirer is a national magazine, and is distributed, they cannot avoid a suit in California, or any other state for that matter.

Are the defendants subject to suit in California? Why or why not?

In 1926 The National Enquirer was founded by William Griffin. The National Enquirer is a weekly magazine that provides stories of famous, and those trying to become famous, people. It includes stories...