Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Blog Entries Admissible on Summary Judgment to Show State of Mind

The University of Kansas (“KU”), in University of Kansas v. Sinks, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23765 (D. Kan. Mar. 19, 2008), was suing to prevent unauthorized sale of KU apparel. In support of its motion for summary judgment, the plaintiff offered what the court described as “weblog entries ... certain internet postings to the Lawrence Journal-World to support their claims of (1) actual confusion and (2) consumers' belief that defendants' products bearing KU's trademarks and other indicia degrade the goodwill and positive associations of KU and its trademarks.” The defendants objected on hearsay grounds, and the plaintiffs maintained that the blog entries were not being offered for a hearsay purpose (i.e., not to prove the truth of the matter asserted, as required by Rule 801(c)) but rather as reflecting the state of mind of the writers (within Fed.R.Evid. 803(3) (“A statement of the declarant's then existing state of mind...”). The Court considered cases coming down both ways, and concluded in favor of admissibility: “While the Court agrees that the line is a fine one, it will consider the weblog evidence to the extent that it is not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted.”

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Recent Posts

(1) Appellate Review of Inherent Power Sanctions (7th Circuit): Factual Findings Reviewed for Clear Error, Choice of Sanction for Abuse of Discretion — 4-Element Test for Reversal; (2) Sanctions and Class Actions: Monetary Sanctions Properly Imposed on Defendants for Improper Communications with Class Members (Represented Parties) — “[I]f The Class And The Class Opponent Are Involved In An Ongoing Business Relationship, Communications From The Class Opponent To The Class May Be Coercive” (Good Quote); (3) Monetary Sanctions under Goodyear v. Haeger: If Same Fact-Gathering Would Have Been Conducted Absent The Misconduct, No But-For Causation — But Only “Rough Justice” Required, “Not Accountant-Like Precision” (Good Quote) — Once Misconduct Is Clear, Time Spent Ferreting It Out Compensable under Goodyear; (4) Goodyear Did Not Overrule Long-Standing Rule That Courts May Impose Modest Civil Monetary Sanctions to Curb Litigation Abuse; (5) Appellate Jurisdiction Lacking Where Sanctioned Attorney Fails to File Notice of Appeal and Lawyer’s Intent to Appeal Not Apparent from Client’s Notice; (5) Rule 11 Improper Purpose — Party May Have Many Purposes for Pursuing Claim — As Long As Claim Is Supported by Good Faith Belief in the Merits, “A Parallel Reason Does Not Violate Rule 11” — To Deny A Motion for Sanctions, The District Court Need Not Address Every Argument: “Arguments Clearly Without Merit Can, And For The Sake Of Judicial Economy Should, Be Passed Over In Silence” (Good Quote); Non-Monetary Sanction on Counsel: Complete Twice The Required Amount Of Professional Responsibility Hours For Her Next Continuing Legal Education Cycle Imposed By The State Bar

Archives