Supreme Court: Privacy Lawsuit Against Hustler Can Go Forward
Today the Supreme Court of the United States issued an order that will allow a privacy case against the Hustler Magazine to continue in lower courts. In March of 2008, less than a year after she was murdered by her wrestler husband, naked photos of Nancy Benoit were published in the magazine. Nancy Benoit's mother Maureen Toffoloni, sued the magazine, claiming that her daughter had asked immediately after the shoot to have the photos and video destroyed and believed that photographer Mark Samansky had done so. Hustler magazine asked the court to dismiss the action, arguing that publication of the pictures was protected by the First Amendment. The Appeals Court ruled against Hustler magazine in June, allowing the lawsuit to go forward. Hustler appealed the decision and the Supreme Court let stand the lower court's ruling.