Ruling Eases Way for Suit by McMartin Defendants
A judge has ruled that three of the original McMartin Preschool molestation defendants are not public figures, a finding that could make it easier for the trio to pursue a libel suit.
Virginia McMartin, Peggy McMartin Buckey and Peggy Ann Buckey are suing Robert Currie, whose son attended the Manhattan Beach school run by the McMartin family. The Los Angeles Superior Court suit claims that Currie sought media attention by accusing teachers at the school of child molestation, pornography and satanic killings. The suit says that Currie knew the allegations were false and it seeks unspecified damages.
Currie’s attorney, John Taylor, asked the judge to declare the plaintiffs public figures. But Superior Court Judge G. Keith Wisot on Tuesday denied the motion, which would have triggered the application of a tougher “actual malice” standard for proving libel and slander. The trial is set to begin May 6.
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