Appeals Court: Stories On Cold Spring Cop's Death Were Protected

click to expand

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled against a man who sued two media organizations over stories that named him as a suspect in a police officer's killing.

Ryan Larson accused Twin Cities television station KARE-TV and the St. Cloud Times of defamation. Larson was arrested on suspicion of murder in the 2012 killing of a Cold Spring police officer, but was never charged.

Larson sued, arguing the news organizations went too far in reporting that authorities suspected him of killing Officer Tom Decker.

A jury sided with the media, but a district judge set that verdict aside and ordered a new trial.

The appeals court reinstated the jury's verdict Monday, saying the "fair-report privilege" protects news reports that accurately summarize or fairly abridge information officially relayed by law enforcement.