Lake v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Minnesota Supreme Court
582 N.W.2d 231 (1998)
- Written by Lauren Petersen, JD
Facts
Elli Lake and Melissa Weber (plaintiffs) vacationed in Mexico, together with Weber’s sister. Weber’s sister took nude photos of Weber and Lake while they were showering. Upon returning home, Weber and Lake took their film to Wal-Mart to be developed. Wal-Mart refused to print certain of the photos because of their nature. Over the course of the next several months, copies of one of the nude photos began circulating in their community. One of their friends told them that a Wal-Mart employee had shared the photo with her. Weber and Lake sued Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (defendant) for intrusion upon seclusion, appropriation, publication of private facts, and false-light publicity. Walmart moved to dismiss on the basis that none of these invasion-of-privacy torts had been recognized under Minnesota’s common law. The trial court granted Walmart’s motion to dismiss. Weber and Lake appealed, and the court of appeals affirmed. Weber and Lake appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Blatz, C.J.)
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