Joseph D. Steinfield Teaches Libel Litigation at Boston College Law School

This course includes in-depth study of First Amendment media law and drafting of selected trial pleadings. The class covers such issues as the evolving concept of what constitutes defamation, the public official/figure doctrine, the opinion defense, confidential sources, burden of proof, and related issues. Also discussed are issues of litigation strategy and the development and use of discovery. Students have the opportunity to draft discovery requests and take depositions based on a hypothetical libel case.