M. G. v. Time Warner, Inc

In M. G. v. Time Warner, Inc. (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 623, a magazine and a television program used a "team photograph of a Little League team to illustrate stories about adult coaches who sexually molested youths playing team sports. Plaintiffs, all of whom appeared in the photograph, were formerly players or coaches on the Little League team. The team's manager . . . pleaded guilty to molesting five children he had coached in Little League. Plaintiffs have the media defendants for invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress." (Id. at p. 26.) M. G. held that the plaintiffs had demonstrated a prima facie case for invasion of privacy under the theories of public disclosure of a private fact and false light. The juxtaposition of the photograph with the content of the article created offensive impressions. In M. G. the use of the photograph and the text linked those in the photograph to "child molestation as either victims, perpetrators, or collaborators." (M. G., supra, at p. 632.) In affirming the trial court's denial of an anti-SLAPP motion, M. G. noted that "state law contains many statutes prohibiting the disclosure of the identity of both minors and victims of sex crimes. Public policy favors such protection -- as does the journalism profession." (Id. at p. 635.)