context: The actual malice standard is subjective; the plaintiff must prove that the defendant actually entertained a serious doubt. Although this fact may be proved by circumstantial rather than direct evidence, "the plaintiff must establish that even in relying upon an otherwise questionable source the defendant actually possessed subjective doubt."
citation_a.signal: see
citation_a.identifier: 390 U.S. 730, 730
citation_a.parenthetical: when defendant had implicated sheriff and union leader in alleged wrongdoing, actual malice could not be inferred from defendant's having relied solely upon affidavit of union dissident of unknown veracity and having failed to verify allegations with sources who might have known
citation_a.sentence: Secord v. Cockburn, 747 F.Supp. 779, 794 (D.D.C.1990) (plaintiff cannot survive summary judgment merely by showing that some of defendant’s sources were convicted felons); see St. Am-ant, 390 U.S. at 730, 88 S.Ct. at 1325 (when defendant had implicated sheriff and union leader in alleged wrongdoing, actual malice could not be inferred from defendant’s having relied solely upon affidavit of union dissident of unknown veracity and having failed to verify allegations with sources who might have known).
citation_b.signal: no signal
citation_b.identifier: 747 F.Supp. 779, 794
citation_b.parenthetical: plaintiff cannot survive summary judgment merely by showing that some of defendant's sources were convicted felons
citation_b.sentence: Secord v. Cockburn, 747 F.Supp. 779, 794 (D.D.C.1990) (plaintiff cannot survive summary judgment merely by showing that some of defendant’s sources were convicted felons); see St. Am-ant, 390 U.S. at 730, 88 S.Ct. at 1325 (when defendant had implicated sheriff and union leader in alleged wrongdoing, actual malice could not be inferred from defendant’s having relied solely upon affidavit of union dissident of unknown veracity and having failed to verify allegations with sources who might have known).