Greenes file appeal in suit vs. newspaper

A former Cherokee County School Board member and her son are appealing a recent ruling by a Circuit Court judge that dismissed their lawsuit against The Gaffney Ledger.

Lovic Brooks III, an attorney who represents Sandra and Joel Greene in their lawsuit against The Gaffney Ledger, filed notice of appeal with the South Carolina Court of Appeals on July 7. The notice did not say why the Greenes are appealing, or how they contend Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes erred in granting summary judgment in the case to The Gaffney Ledger.

The Greenes had sued the newspaper and its publisher, Cody Sossamon, in 2007, alleging Sandra Greene was injured by the newspaper's coverage of her and her family and that Joel Green was libeled in an opinion column written by Sossamon.

Judge Hayes rejected the Greenes' claims and dismissed their lawsuit in a 15-page decision made official June 5.

Judge Hayes, citing the Greenes' own admissions in a court document, noted in his opinion that the Greenes' claim of outrage was not based on any false publications but on constant publicity, which they contended put them in a false and unfavorable light. The judge also found no expert testimony to back up Sandra Green's claim of injury from any stories, since no expert witness was identified or planned to testify.

And in writing about Joel's claim of libel, the judge found that Sossamon's column was a protected opinion.

"A review of the testimony of Joel Greene supports the conclusion that not only has he failed to prove the falsity of the publication, the publication was true," the judge wrote.