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Decision of Note: <B>Defamation Claim Reinstated Over 'Hardball' Film</B>

By Stan Soocher
August 25, 2003

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has reinstated a lawsuit alleging that a youth-baseball coach may have been defamed by the movie 'Hardball.' Muzikowski v. Paramount Pictures Corp., 10-4314.

Plaintiff Robert Muzikowski was a securities broker and insurance salesman who became involved in coaching inner-city Little League Baseball. Outside magazine editor Daniel Coyle wrote the book 'Hardball: A Season in the Projects' after he became involved in Little League coaching. Muzikowski was mentioned several times in Coyle's book. Paramount Pictures later produced a movie based on the book but made no mention of Muzikowski by name or of Little League Baseball. The film included a disclaimer that stated: 'While this motion picture is in part inspired by actual events, persons and organizations, this is a fictitious story and no actual persons, events or organizations have been portrayed.'

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