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Decision of Note: <B>Defamation Claim Reinstated Over 'Hardball' Film</B>
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has reinstated a lawsuit alleging that a youth-baseball coach may have been defamed by the movie 'Hardball.' Muzikowski v. Paramount Pictures Corp., 10-4314.
Plaintiff Robert Muzikowski was a securities broker and insurance salesman who became involved in coaching inner-city Little League Baseball. Outside magazine editor Daniel Coyle wrote the book 'Hardball: A Season in the Projects' after he became involved in Little League coaching. Muzikowski was mentioned several times in Coyle's book. Paramount Pictures later produced a movie based on the book but made no mention of Muzikowski by name or of Little League Baseball. The film included a disclaimer that stated: 'While this motion picture is in part inspired by actual events, persons and organizations, this is a fictitious story and no actual persons, events or organizations have been portrayed.'
Muzikowski filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging that the film's sometimes unflattering central character, Conor O'Neill, played by Keanu Reeves, nevertheless could be identified as Muzikowski. The complaint alleged defamation and false light invasion of privacy. The district court dismissed the suit.
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