Baton Rouge TV station faces defamation suit for coverage of child abuse case | Louisiana Record

Even so, Bayhi maintains that as a Roman Catholic priest he is bound by a sacred seal of confession, which asserts he can neither disclose details of a confession or even confirm one has ever taken place.

The suit against WBRZ, which has been assigned to Judge Wilson Fields in the 19th Judicial District Court, arose from a graphic displayed during a news report on Jan. 20, 2015.
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In the case of the defamation suit, one of the determining factors in the case will be whether Bayhi is regarded as a public or private figure. Private figures, according to Corcos, need only demonstrate the defendant made a false statement negligently. Public figures face a much higher burden of proof, as in the case of celebrities.

"The decisions about whether the plaintiff is a public figure or a private figure, and whether the controversy is a matter of public concern, are made by the judge," Corcos said. "Another area that can be contentious is whether the statement the plaintiff complains of is a statement of fact at all, or whether it’s an opinion. If the statement can be proven true or false, then it’s a statement of fact. If it's an opinion, then generally speaking, the plaintiff cannot prevail."

Baton Rouge TV station faces defamation suit for coverage of child abuse case | Louisiana Record