Anonsen v. Donahue
Texas Court of Appeals
857 S.W.2d 700 (1993)
- Written by Sara Adams, JD
Facts
Nancy Anonsen, joined by her husband and her biological son (plaintiffs), filed a claim against Anonsen’s mother, Miriam Booher, and television host Phil Donahue (defendants) in state court following Booher’s appearance on an episode of Donahue’s nationally broadcast television show. The lawsuit alleged invasion of privacy by public disclosure of private facts. The episode featuring Booher focused on pregnancies resulting from rape and incest. On the show, Booher discussed her ex-husband’s rape of Anonsen when Anonsen was a child and the resulting pregnancy and birth of her grandson. The rape was never reported to the authorities or publicly disclosed. Booher shared her own full name on the show but did not identify her ex-husband, daughter, or grandson. Anonsen did not dispute the truth of any facts presented by Booher. Anonsen argued that Booher’s disclosure of her own identity also disclosed Anonsen’s identity and exposed the circumstances of her rape and pregnancy to the nation. Anonsen had explicitly told Booher not to appear on the show or discuss the events. The district court granted a motion for summary judgment filed by Booher and Donahue. Anonsen appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Oliver-Parrott, C.J.)
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