What the document records
The Superior Court affirmed summary judgment for Chris Kelly and the Scranton Times in Godlewski's defamation and false-light lawsuit. [2]
Context
Godlewski stipulated to public-figure status for this lawsuit. The court held that he had not established falsity concerning the reported sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student and had not produced clear and convincing evidence of actual malice. Godlewski disputed the reported sexual relationship and the article's characterization of his criminal history.
Scope & limitations
A civil judgment, not a new criminal conviction. The memorandum is non-precedential. Actual malice concerns knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.
Research reviewed . Source dates and court-event dates are listed separately.