Home > Great American Court Cases > Westmoreland v. CBS, Inc.

Legal Citation: 596 F.Supp. 1170 (1984)

Plaintiff
General William C. Westmoreland

Defendant
CBS, Inc., Mike Wallace, George Crile, Sam Adams, Van Gordon Sauter

Plaintiff's Claim
That a television documentary broadcast by CBS concerning the conduct of the Vietnam War libeled Westmoreland.

Chief Lawyers for Plaintiff
Dan M. Burt, David M. Dorsen

Chief Defense Lawyers
David Boies, Stuart W. Gold

Judge
Pierre N. Leval

Place
New York, New York

Date of Decision
18 February 1985

Decision
The case was settled out of court before going to the jury.

Significance
The case affirmed stringent standards set for public figures to successfully seek libel damages through litigation. Public figures must prove actual malice. Despite evidence of press misconduct in this and...