John Oliver Defamation Suit Remanded to West Virginia Court
Murray Energy's defamation litigation against HBO, Time Warner and show host John Oliver is being remanded to the Circuit Court of Marshall County, West Virginia, where it originally was filed in June. In an order (in Pacer) Thursday granting Murray's…
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motion to remand, U.S. District Judge John Bailey of Wheeling said Murray Energy corporations that are plaintiffs may have been defamed by statements Oliver made about CEO Bob Murray, given the close connection between the companies and Murray. Given that possible defamation, the companies were properly joined in the lawsuit and that joinder destroys the diversity jurisdiction that would have let the federal court handle the case, the judge said. Bailey also denied as moot Murray motions for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order (see 1708020039). HBO said the remand "was not at all related to the merits of the case and as we’ve said all along we not believe anything in the show violated Mr. Murray or Murray Energy’s rights.” Murray Energy didn't comment Friday.