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Cohen v. Cowles Media (1990): Difference between revisions
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(https://www.quimbee.com/cases/cohen-v-cowles-media-co--2) |
m (DeRien moved page Cohen v. Cowles Media Co. (Minn.) to Cohen v. Cowles Media (1990): 1st of 3 cases; 1990 case) |
(No difference)
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Revision as of 20:21, September 3, 2023
| Cohen v. Cowles Media (1990) | |
| Court | Minnesota Supreme Court |
|---|---|
| Citation | 457 N.W.2d 199 |
| Date decided | 1990 |
| Appealed from | Minnesota State Court of Appeals |
| Related | Cohen v. Cowles Media Co. |
| Overturned by | |
| Cohen v. Cowles Media (1991) | |
Facts
The plaintiff, Dan Cohen, was promised by the defendants Northwest Publications, Inc. and the Pioneer Press that his name would not be disclosed in exchange for some documents which leaked information about a politician running in an upcoming election. They decided to print his name as the source of the information, against the reporter’s judgment.
Procedural History
The jury awarded Cohen $200,000 compensatory damages, and $250,000 punitive damages.
The appeals court set aside the punitive damages, because misrepresentation had not been proved.Judgment
Reversed.
Resources
Issues
Whether the first amendment prohibits a plaintiff from recovering damages, under state promissory estoppel law, for a newspaper’s breach of a promise of confidentiality given to the plaintiff in exchange for information.
Rules In deciding whether it would be unjust not to enforce the promise, the court must necessarily weigh the same considerations that are weighed for whether the First Amendment has been violated.
Conclusion It seems that the law best leaves the parties to trust in each other, so that freedom of press is more important than enforcing this contract.
