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(Argued: December 2, 2008) Tj
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(funeral. Snyder's complaint alleged five state law tort claims,) Tj
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(million in compensatory damages and a total of $8 million in) Tj
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(punitive damages. Although the district court remitted the) Tj
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(aggregate punitive award to $2.1 million, it otherwise denied) Tj
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(the post-trial motions. ) Tj
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(below, we reverse on that basis. ) Tj
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(On March 3, 2006, Marine Lance Corporal Matthew) Tj
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(to the home of the Plaintiff, Albert Snyder, and told) Tj
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(his funeral, which was scheduled for March 10,) Tj
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(2006. Obituary notices were placed in local newspa-) Tj
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(funeral.) Tj
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(not related to Phelps by blood or marriage. Accord-) Tj
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(beliefs is that God hates homosexuality and hates) Tj
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(religious viewpoint.) Tj
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( ) Tj
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(announcing that members of the Phelps family) Tj
0 -13 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
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(daughters Phelps-Roper and Phelps-Davis, and four) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.71 Tw
(of his grandchildren arrived in Westminster, Mary-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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(land, to picket Matthew Snyder's funeral. None of) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
.5 Tw
(the Defendants ever met any members of the Snyder) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.2 Tw
(family.) Tj
0 -26 Td
.05 Tw
() Tj
9 Tw
( ) Tj
.05 Tw
(Defendants' rationale was quite simple. They trav-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.33 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
3.66 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
2.03 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
.11 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
3.52 Tw
(as "God Hates the USA," "America is doomed,") Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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("Pope in hell," and "Fag troops." The signs also car-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.68 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
3.31 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
1.17 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
3.12 Tw
(it was Defendants' "duty" to deliver the message) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.43 Tw
("whether they want to hear it or not." Lance Cpl.) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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(Snyder's funeral was thus utilized by Defendants as) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.2 Tw
(the vehicle for this message.) Tj
0 -26 Td
2.71 Tw
() Tj
9 Tw
( ) Tj
2.71 Tw
(It was undisputed at trial that Defendants com-) Tj
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3.88 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
3.16 Tw
(with respect to being a certain distance from the) Tj
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(television program later that day with footage of the) Tj
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(Phelps family at his son's funeral.) Tj
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() Tj
9 Tw
( ) Tj
7.32 Tw
(Defendants' utilization of Matthew Snyder's) Tj
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(Burden of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder,") Tj
0 -13.3 Td
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(Phelps-Roper stated that Albert Snyder and his ex-) Tj
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0 -13.3 Td
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0 -13.2 Td
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0 -13.2 Td
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0 -13.2 Td
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0 -13.2 Td
1.2 Tw
("epic" on the church's website.) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
-22 -26.3 Td
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(Snyder v. Phelps) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(\(internal citation omitted\).) Tj
4.9 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
.5 Tw
(1) Tj
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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( ) Tj
144.498 -26.3 Td
(B.) Tj
1.002 -26.3 Td
(1.) Tj
-133.5 -26.2 Td
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-12 -13.2 Td
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(1) Tj
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-10 -11.2 Td
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0 -11.2 Td
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0 -11.2 Td
.6 Tw
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0 -11.2 Td
1.86 Tw
(tion throughout the country relating to their protests. ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(, ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(Phelps-) Tj
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(Roper v. Nixon) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(Phelps-Roper v. Strickland) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(,) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
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0 -11.2 Td
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(forty states and the federal government have enacted legislation address-) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
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(ing funeral picketing. ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(See) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
( Stephen R. McAllister, ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(Funeral Picketing Laws) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
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(and Free Speech) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(, 55 U. Kan. L. Rev. 575, 576 \(2007\). ) Tj
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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12 -26.4 Td
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-12 -13.3 Td
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(2) Tj
0 Ts
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(Citations herein to "J.A. __" refer to the contents of the Joint Appendix) Tj
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(filed by the parties in this appeal. ) Tj
10 -14 Td
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-10 -11.2 Td
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0 -11.2 Td
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(given to private life. Thus, whether the court erred in making those rulings) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
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(is not implicated in this appeal. ) Tj
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1.2 Tw
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3.57 Tw
() Tj
9 Tw
( ) Tj
3.57 Tw
(Throughout trial, Plaintiff demonstrated signifi-) Tj
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(nal citations omitted\).) Tj
12 -27.2 Td
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(Snyder) Tj
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0 -13.7 Td
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([seeing] in the website . . . have made the depression worse) Tj
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Id.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( \(alterations in original\). ) Tj
12 -27.2 Td
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-12 -13.7 Td
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4.9 Ts
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0 -13.7 Td
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0 -13.7 Td
1.26 Tw
(such as "America Is Doomed" and "God Hates America" ) Tj
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0 -13.7 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(, 533 F. Supp. 2d at 578.) Tj
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(the Snyder family." ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Id.) Tj
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(statements published in the Epic on the Church website "cre-) Tj
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(ated similar issues to be addressed by the finder of fact." ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -11.6 Td
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/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
(Stromberg v. Cal-) Tj
0 -11.6 Td
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(ifornia) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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144.504 -27.6 Td
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(merit.) Tj
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(Each of the Defendants requested a stay of execution of judgment) Tj
-10 -11.8 Td
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10 -14.7 Td
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1.56 Tw
(7) Tj
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0 -11.8 Td
.17 Tw
(bond pending appeal. As explained below, we discharge the various bonds) Tj
0 -11.8 Td
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(as a corollary to reversing the judgment. ) Tj
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2.25 Tw
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12 -26 Td
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2.51 Tw
(result, the First Amendment contention must be addressed.) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
.44 Tw
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(322, 333 n.11 \(4th Cir. 2001\) \("`An issue waived by appellant) Tj
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Christopher M.) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 933 F.2d 1285, 1293 \(5th) Tj
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1.16 Tw
(Cir. 1991\)\); ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Cavallo v. Star Enter.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 100 F.3d 1150, 1152 n.2) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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(\(4th Cir. 1996\) \(declining to address issue not raised in open-) Tj
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.17 Tw
(ing brief, as it would be "unfair to the appellee and would risk) Tj
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3.13 Tw
(an improvident or ill-advised opinion on the legal issues") Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.85 Tw
(\(internal quotation marks omitted\)\). Indeed, "`[a]n appellant) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
.1 Tw
(and an amicus may not split up the issues and expect the court) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
.05 Tw
(to consider that they have all been raised on appeal.'" ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Buculei) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(,) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
(262 F.3d at 333 n.11 \(quoting ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Amoco Oil Co. v. United States) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(,) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
.69 Tw
(234 F.3d 1374, 1378 \(Fed. Cir. 2000\)\). ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(But see ) Tj
(Spicer v. Hil-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
.26 Tw
(ton) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 618 F.2d 232, 240 \(3d Cir. 1980\) \(concluding that consti-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.47 Tw
(tutional issues should yield to nonconstitutional ones, even) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
.37 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
1.31 Tw
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 234 F.3d at 1378.) Tj
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
(Teague v. Lane) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 489 U.S. 288, 300 \(1989\)) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
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0 -13.4 Td
3.77 Tw
(with respect to another claim\); ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(Davis v. United) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
5.03 Tw
(States) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.4 Td
.91 Tw
(Supreme Court may assess contentions raised only in amicus) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.51 Tw
(brief, but declining to do so\). With all respect to the Supreme) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.92 Tw
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Teague) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( and ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Davis) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(,) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
3.66 Tw
(this situation does not warrant an exception to our post-) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
0 -13.4 Td
1.24 Tw
(Teague) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( circuit precedent.) Tj
4.9 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
(8) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( Because the Defendants have vol-) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
2.16 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
1.03 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
-.18 Tw
(and resolve the First Amendment issues presented by the judg-) Tj
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
0 Ts
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
0 -13.3 Td
1.2 Tw
(ment.) Tj
4.9 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
.5 Tw
(9) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
142.506 -26.4 Td
1.2 Tw
(III.) Tj
-130.506 -26.4 Td
.53 Tw
(With respect to the First Amendment issue, the Defendants) Tj
-12 -13.3 Td
1.93 Tw
(maintain that they were entitled to judgment as a matter of) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
10 -26.2 Td
4.1 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
1.5 Tw
(8) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(In this regard, we further observe that recognition of the right of an) Tj
-10 -11.2 Td
.27 Tw
(amicus to present an issue that the parties have no desire to further litigate) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
1.78 Tw
(would constitute judicial recognition of a lawyer relief rule inviting) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
.33 Tw
(lawyers and nonparties otherwise without standing to seek out and engage) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
.48 Tw
(in mischief that would readily be likened to barratry, champerty, or main-) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
1 Tw
(tenance. ) Tj
10 -14.1 Td
4.1 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
1.81 Tw
(9) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(Because the sufficiency of the evidence issue was waived, the ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(Ash-) Tj
-10 -11.2 Td
.58 Tw
(wander) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
( principle that a court should not "decide questions of a consti-) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
1.52 Tw
(tutional nature unless absolutely necessary" is inapplicable here. ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(See) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
.58 Tw
(Ashwander v. Tenn. Valley Auth.) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(, 297 U.S. 288, 347 \(1936\) \(Brandeis, J.,) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
.43 Tw
(concurring\) \(internal quotation marks omitted\). The resolution of the First) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
1.8 Tw
(Amendment issues is absolutely necessary, as it is the sole appropriate) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
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0 -13.5 Td
.27 Tw
(at the Maryland protest and in the written Epic they published) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
1.55 Tw
(on the Internet. We will first address the Defendants' asser-) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
2.18 Tw
(tion that the court erroneously permitted the jury to decide) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
.64 Tw
(legal issues reserved to the court. Such an error would garner) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
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(the Defendants a new trial, but there is no need for a new trial) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
3.36 Tw
(if the Defendants were entitled to prevail under the First) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
1.77 Tw
(Amendment. Thus, after describing the general legal frame-) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
1.14 Tw
(work applicable here, we specifically address the application) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
2.66 Tw
(of that legal framework to the Defendants' various protest) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
1.2 Tw
(signs and their written Epic. ) Tj
144.168 -26.7 Td
(A.) Tj
-132.168 -26.7 Td
.43 Tw
(It is well established that tort liability under state law, even) Tj
-12 -13.5 Td
.74 Tw
(in the context of litigation between private parties, is circum-) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.96 Tw
(scribed by the First Amendment. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
(New York Times Co. v.) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
5.8 Tw
(Sullivan) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 376 U.S. 254, 264-65 \(1964\).) Tj
4.9 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
(10) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( Although the) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.82 Tw
(Supreme Court in ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(New York Times) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( specifically addressed the) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.33 Tw
(common law tort of defamation, the Court explained that its) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
2.38 Tw
(reasoning did not turn on the precise "form in which state) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.48 Tw
(power has been applied." ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Id.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( at 265. Accordingly, the Court) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.4 Tw
(later applied the First Amendment to other torts not involving) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.24 Tw
(reputational damages, ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(see ) Tj
(Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(,) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
3.27 Tw
(485 U.S. 46, 53 \(1988\) \(IIED\), and we have applied the) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
3.37 Tw
(Court's controlling principles to other state law torts, ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(see) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.03 Tw
(Food Lion v. Capital Cities/ABC, Inc.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 194 F.3d 505, 511, 522) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
0 Tw
(\(4th Cir. 1999\) \(fraud, breach of duty of loyalty, and trespass\).) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.55 Tw
(Thus, regardless of the specific tort being employed, the First) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
4.81 Tw
(Amendment applies when a plaintiff seeks damages for) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
10 -26.3 Td
4.1 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
.52 Tw
(10) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(The district court properly distinguished these proceedings, where the) Tj
-10 -11.3 Td
.88 Tw
(Defendants contend that the First Amendment immunizes them from tort) Tj
0 -11.3 Td
.86 Tw
(liability, from other decisions relied on by the Defendants addressing the) Tj
0 -11.3 Td
2.37 Tw
(constitutionality of ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(statutory) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
( prohibitions affecting funeral pickets. ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(See) Tj
0 -11.3 Td
.01 Tw
(Snyder v. Phelps) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(, 533 F. Supp. 2d 567, 578-79 \(D. Md. 2008\) \(distinguish-) Tj
0 -11.3 Td
.68 Tw
(ing certain "successful attacks by the [Defendants] upon ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(statutory) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
( restric-) Tj
0 -11.3 Td
1 Tw
(tions" that have not met constitutional muster\). ) Tj
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/F2 11 Tf 100 Tz
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1.1 Tw
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0 -13.4 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(id.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( at 523.) Tj
4.9 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
.5 Tw
(11) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
12 -26.6 Td
1.22 Tw
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-12 -13.4 Td
.37 Tw
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0 -13.4 Td
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0 -13.4 Td
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(stitute a forbidden intrusion on the field of free expression.'") Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
0 -13.4 Td
1.2 Tw
(Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 466 U.S. 485,) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.92 Tw
(499 \(1984\) \(quoting ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(New York Times) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 376 U.S. at 284-86\);) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
0 -13.4 Td
2.8 Tw
(see also ) Tj
(Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 497 U.S. 1, 21) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.21 Tw
(\(1990\) \(referring to the review required by ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Bose Corp.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( as "en-) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
3.85 Tw
(hanced appellate review"\). We review de novo a district) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.47 Tw
(court's conclusions of law with respect to a First Amendment) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.66 Tw
(issue. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
(United States v. Bly) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 510 F.3d 453, 457 \(4th Cir.) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.2 Tw
(2007\).) Tj
12 -26.6 Td
1.17 Tw
(In its ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(New York Times) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( decision, the Supreme Court estab-) Tj
-12 -13.4 Td
.33 Tw
(lished a rule barring public officials from recovering damages) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.74 Tw
(for the common law tort of defamation unless the allegedly) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.48 Tw
(defamatory statement was made with "actual malice," and the) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.77 Tw
(Court defined such malice as knowing falsity or reckless dis-) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
3.27 Tw
(regard for the truth. 376 U.S. at 279-80. The Court later) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
2.78 Tw
(expanded that constitutional standard to speech concerning) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
2.17 Tw
("public figures" as well as "public officials," ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Curtis Publ'g) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
.53 Tw
(Co. v. Butts) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 388 U.S. 130, 164 \(1967\) \(Warren, C.J., concur-) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.36 Tw
(ring in the result\), but stopped short of extending its protec-) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
3.52 Tw
(tive rule to speech targeting private figures, ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(see ) Tj
(Gertz v.) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.2 Tw
(Robert Welch, Inc.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 418 U.S. 323, 344-46 \(1974\). ) Tj
12 -26.5 Td
.85 Tw
(Nevertheless, in a distinct but related line of decisions, the) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
-2 -26.2 Td
4.1 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
.08 Tw
(11) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(The Supreme Court has deemed the First Amendment defense inappli-) Tj
-10 -11.3 Td
1 Tw
(cable to a state law tort claim only when the plaintiff seeks damages for) Tj
0 -11.3 Td
.74 Tw
(actual pecuniary loss, as opposed to injury to reputation or state of mind.) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
0 -11.3 Td
1.28 Tw
(See ) Tj
(Cohen v. Cowles Media Co.) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -11.3 Td
0 Tw
(that First Amendment did not bar economic damages resulting from defen-) Tj
0 -11.3 Td
1 Tw
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/F2 11 Tf 100 Tz
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1.1 Tw
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2.37 Tw
(type) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
.6 Tw
(Milkovich) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 497 U.S. at 16; ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Hustler Magazine) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 485 U.S. at 50;) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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.11 Tw
(see also ) Tj
(Deupree v. Iliff) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.3 Td
.33 Tw
(\(recognizing that certain types of speech are protected regard-) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
2.7 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
3.47 Tw
(although there is no categorical constitutional defense for) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.06 Tw
(statements of "opinion," the First Amendment will fully pro-) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
2.68 Tw
(tect "statements that cannot `reasonably [be] interpreted as) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
.47 Tw
(stating actual facts' about an individual." ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Milkovich) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 497 U.S.) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.28 Tw
(at 20 \(alteration in original\) \(quoting ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Hustler Magazine) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 485) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.2 Tw
(U.S. at 50\).) Tj
4.9 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
.5 Tw
(12) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
12 -26.3 Td
0 Tw
(In ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Milkovich) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, which is a crucial precedent in our disposition) Tj
-12 -13.3 Td
.83 Tw
(of this appeal, the Supreme Court declined to adopt an artifi-) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.58 Tw
(cial dichotomy between "opinion" and "fact," and it specifi-) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1 Tw
(cally eschewed the multifactor tests that several lower courts) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.71 Tw
(\(including this Court\) had utilized to categorize speech. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
0 -13.3 Td
.51 Tw
(497 U.S. at 19; ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(see also ) Tj
(Biospherics, Inc. v. Forbes, Inc.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 151) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.62 Tw
(F.3d 180, 183-84 \(4th Cir. 1998\) \(explaining that ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Milkovich) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
0 -13.2 Td
.16 Tw
(rejected our multifactor test\). In ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Milkovich) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, the Court assessed) Tj
0 -13.2 Td
.24 Tw
(whether a newspaper enjoyed First Amendment protection for) Tj
0 -13.2 Td
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0 -13.2 Td
2.33 Tw
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0 -13.2 Td
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0 -13.2 Td
1.84 Tw
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0 -13.2 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.2 Td
1.16 Tw
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0 -13.2 Td
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0 -13.2 Td
1.33 Tw
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0 -13.2 Td
1.66 Tw
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0 -13.2 Td
1.41 Tw
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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4.1 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
.66 Tw
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0 Ts
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -11.2 Td
.39 Tw
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/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(, ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(Miller v. California) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(, 413 U.S. 15,) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
1.11 Tw
(20 \(1973\); ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
0 -13.5 Td
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(1993\); ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
0 -11.4 Td
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -11.4 Td
1.1 Tw
(2000\); ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -11.4 Td
1.89 Tw
(\(8th Cir. 1986\); ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -11.4 Td
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/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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12 -27.1 Td
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
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12 -26.5 Td
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3.62 Tw
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(15) Tj
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12 -26.4 Td
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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-132.498 -26 Td
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(Amended Complaint: intrusion upon seclusion, IIED, and) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
.07 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.1 Td
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145.5 -26 Td
(1.) Tj
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(Gertz) Tj
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3.85 Tw
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(whether America is "doomed," are matters of purely subjec-) Tj
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("Priests Rape Boys," as asserting actual facts ) Tj
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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( v. P) Tj
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(others in this category, consist of offensive and hyperbolic) Tj
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145.5 -26.2 Td
(b.) Tj
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(19) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( A reasonable reader) Tj
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12 -26.2 Td
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(because a reasonable reader would not interpret the statements) Tj
0 -13.2 Td
3.03 Tw
(on these two signs as asserting actual and provable facts.) Tj
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4.1 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
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(19) Tj
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-10 -11.2 Td
.1 Tw
(word "thou" was used to refer to a single person. ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
(Webster's Third New) Tj
0 -11.2 Td
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(International Dictionary) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
( 2380-81 \(1976\). ) Tj
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(that he is asserting actual facts about an individual.) Tj
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(Biospherics) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.1 Td
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(offensive\) protest, with the speech at issue conveyed on hand-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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(held placards. A distasteful protest sign regarding hotly) Tj
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145.836 -26 Td
(c.) Tj
-133.836 -26 Td
2.06 Tw
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(son. The First Amendment issue concerning the Epic presents) Tj
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(a somewhat more difficult question, however, because it is) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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(entitled "The Burden of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Sny-) Tj
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2.47 Tw
(lar soldier. The Epic's subtitle, however, immediately con-) Tj
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/F2 11 Tf 100 Tz
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1.1 Tw
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/F2 7.7 Tf 101.2 Tz
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(HELPS) Tj
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(signs displayed there: "The Visit of Westboro Baptist Church) Tj
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(to Help the Inhabitants of Maryland Connect the Dots! This) Tj
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(Epic Adventure Took Place on Friday, March 10, 2006." ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Id.) Tj
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(The Epic has a photograph of the funeral protest immediately) Tj
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(below its title, followed by nearly two pages of verbatim) Tj
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(Bible verses. ) Tj
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(Id.) Tj
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( at 3788-89. ) Tj
12 -26 Td
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-12 -13.1 Td
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(devil. You taught him that God was a liar." ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Id.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( at 3791. The) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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1.15 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
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(ter." ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Id.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( After interspersing additional excerpts from the Bible,) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.07 Tw
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(that he fought for ) Tj
22 -26 Td
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(in lock step with his evil, wicked[,] and sinful man-) Tj
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(that is so mad He has smoke coming from his nos-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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(trils and fire from his mouth! How dumb was that?) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
-22 -26 Td
1.7 Tw
(Id.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( The Epic then links Matthew's death to the Defendants') Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.2 Tw
(protest activities, stating:) Tj
22 -26 Td
1.14 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
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(throughout all the earth. He killed Matthew so that) Tj
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0 -13 Td
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1.2 Tw
(thew Snyder fulfilled his calling.) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
-22 -26 Td
(Id.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( at 3973. ) Tj
12 -26 Td
.1 Tw
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-12 -13 Td
1.67 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
.25 Tw
(patterned after the hyperbolic and figurative language used on) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
1.18 Tw
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(,) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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(151 F.3d at 184-85. In context, the Epic is a recap of the pro-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.95 Tw
(test and was distributed through the Church website, which) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.18 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
1.2 Tw
(about Snyder or his son to be asserted therein. ) Tj
12 -26 Td
2.54 Tw
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-12 -13.1 Td
1.27 Tw
(impression that it was the source of any actual facts. In pre-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.85 Tw
(paring it, the Defendants interspersed strong, figurative lan-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.37 Tw
(guage with verses from the Bible. They utilized distasteful) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.11 Tw
(and offensive words, atypical capitalization, and exaggerated) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.74 Tw
(punctuation, all of which suggest the work of a hysterical) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.37 Tw
(protestor rather than an objective reporter of facts. Despite) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
.83 Tw
(referring to the Snyder family by name, the Epic is primarily) Tj
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1.25 Tw
(concerned with the Defendants' strongly held views on mat-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.33 Tw
(ters of public concern. Indeed, the Epic explains that Mat-) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.04 Tw
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.41 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
2.47 Tw
(lis [and] the Maryland Legislature," J.A. 3973, where they) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
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0 -13.1 Td
3.54 Tw
(Defendants' extensive funeral picketing activities predated) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
2.58 Tw
(Matthew's funeral and continue to this day throughout the) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
4.12 Tw
(country, with many of the signs displayed at Matthew's) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.2 Tw
(funeral also being displayed in other protests. ) Tj
12 -26 Td
.93 Tw
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.5 Tw
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0 -13.4 Td
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(tests are directed. The Defendants assert in the Epic, for) Tj
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0 -13.3 Td
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0 -13.3 Td
2.66 Tw
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3.9 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
.55 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
.07 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
1.69 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
2.6 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
4.36 Tw
("loose, figurative, or hyperbolic language" not connoting) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
.03 Tw
(actual facts about Matthew or his parents. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.3 Td
2.55 Tw
(at 21. Thus, a reasonable reader would not understand the) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.2 Tw
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4.9 Ts
/F5 6 Tf 100 Tz
.5 Tw
(20) Tj
0 Ts
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
1.2 Tw
( ) Tj
144.498 -26.5 Td
(C.) Tj
-132.498 -26.4 Td
.42 Tw
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-12 -13.3 Td
2.87 Tw
(words being challenged in these proceedings, we are con-) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
1.36 Tw
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0 -13.3 Td
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(constitutionally protected. To paraphrase our distinguished) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
5.16 Tw
(colleague Judge Hall, judges defending the Constitution) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
3.54 Tw
("must sometimes share [their] foxhole with scoundrels of) Tj
0 -13.3 Td
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0 -13.3 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(20) Tj
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0 -11.2 Td
.37 Tw
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0 -11.2 Td
1 Tw
(or scorn." ) Tj
/F4 10 Tf 100 Tz
(Snyder) Tj
/F2 10 Tf 100 Tz
(, 533 F. Supp. 2d at 572-73. ) Tj
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12 -27.5 Td
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0 -13.9 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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22 -27.5 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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142.17 -27.5 Td
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.28 Tw
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(charged. ) Tj
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1.2 Tw
(issue addressed by the majority. ) Tj
146.502 -26 Td
(I.) Tj
-2.334 -26 Td
(A.) Tj
-132.168 -26 Td
1.87 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
.37 Tw
(for the disposition of the case. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
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0 -13.1 Td
.15 Tw
(Auth.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.1 Td
1.14 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
1.97 Tw
(case."\) \(internal citation and quotations marks omitted\); ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(see) Tj
0 -13.1 Td
1.1 Tw
(also ) Tj
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.1 Td
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.58 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
.53 Tw
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4.48 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(non) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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1.66 Tw
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2.77 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
1.2 Tw
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12 -26 Td
.13 Tw
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0 -13.1 Td
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.88 Tw
(waived. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(in an amicus brief, we generally decline to consider it. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
2.33 Tw
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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1.39 Tw
(2001\). However, that rule is not absolute, and I believe it is) Tj
0 -13.5 Td
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12 -26.7 Td
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(, 283) Tj
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(waived"\) \(emphasis added\); ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(Corp.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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.51 Tw
(here"\). Indeed, the Supreme Court has approved this practice.) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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.23 Tw
(See ) Tj
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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1.36 Tw
(ion\); ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(\(1994\).) Tj
12 -26.6 Td
.02 Tw
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-12 -13.4 Td
.23 Tw
(trict of Columbia Circuit is instructive on this point. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See ) Tj
(Inde-) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.87 Tw
(pendent Ins. Agents of America, Inc. v. Clarke) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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0 -13.4 Td
.54 Tw
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0 -13.4 Td
2.1 Tw
(by the parties\), ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(rev'd on other grounds sub nom. ) Tj
(U.S. Nat.) Tj
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1.11 Tw
(Bank of Oregon v. Independent Ins. Agents of America, Inc.) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(,) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.33 Tw
(508 U.S. 439, 445-47 \(1993\). In denying rehearing ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
(,) Tj
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( What the dissenters in effect argue is) Tj
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(would have occurred in this case had the panel not,) Tj
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/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(pendent Ins. Agents of America) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
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2.51 Tw
(on hypothetical Acts of Congress or dubious constitutional) Tj
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1.53 Tw
(principles, an opinion that would be difficult to characterize) Tj
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.24 Tw
(as anything but advisory"\). Thus, I believe we have the power) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.93 Tw
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0 -13.4 Td
1.2 Tw
(that power under certain circumstances. ) Tj
12 -26.6 Td
.43 Tw
(Here, moreover, the dispositive nonconstitutional ground is) Tj
-12 -13.4 Td
.47 Tw
(already before us as the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Pro-) Tj
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1.07 Tw
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0 -13.4 Td
1.37 Tw
(ted to file an amicus curiae brief, argues that the underlying) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
1.23 Tw
(state law torts are legally deficient. ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(See) Tj
/F2 12 Tf 100 Tz
( Brief of the Thomas) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
.74 Tw
(Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, at 15-) Tj
0 -13.4 Td
2.83 Tw
(30. Specifically, the Center contends that Snyder failed to) Tj
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(the Phelps' activities are outrageous under Maryland law. ) Tj
12 -26.7 Td
2.07 Tw
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-12 -13.5 Td
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(raised by the Center for several reasons. First, the Phelps) Tj
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0 -13.5 Td
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(in the district court by way of a motion for summary judg-) Tj
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(B.) Tj
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/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
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(nal citations and quotation marks omitted\). Several cases) Tj
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(In ) Tj
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(man) Tj
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(cuted" signs. ) Tj
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(Id.) Tj
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(ING NO SOLICITING." ) Tj
/F4 12 Tf 100 Tz
(Id.) Tj
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( The reporters asked him a series) Tj
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(Id.) Tj
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(Id.) Tj
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(In ) Tj
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(Id.) Tj
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(marks omitted\). ) Tj
12 -26 Td
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12 -27.6 Td
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0 -11.7 Td
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