Privacy

Key point 4-04. Many states recognize "invasion of privacy" as a basis for liability. Invasion of privacy may consist of any one or more the following: (1) public disclosure of private facts; (2) use of another person's name or likeness; (3) placing someone in a "false light" in the public eye; or (4) intruding upon another's seclusion.

Invasion of Privacy

* A California court addressed the question of liability for the unauthorized publication of a person's photo, and concluded that a magazine was liable on the basis of "invasion of privacy" for publishing a photo of a boys' baseball team in an article addressing the sexual molestation of children by coaches. In 1999 Sports Illustrated used the team photograph of a Little League team to illustrate stories about adult coaches who sexually molest youths playing team sports. The team's coach ("Larry") was removed when parents ...