Alonzo W. Lawrence and James Simpson, Plaintiffs-Respondents v. Bauer Publishing & Printing Ltd., a Corporation…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that both plaintiffs were public figures for the limited purpose of the firehouse petition controversy and that the defendants did not act with actual malice, so the judgment for Simpson was reversed and the order granting Lawrence a new trial was vacated. Justice Schreiber dissented, arguing the public‑figure analysis was too expansive and that actual malice was shown.