News organizations may be liable when printing allegations about public figures if the information they disseminate is recklessly gathered and unchecked. Decided June 12, 1967 (argued February 23, 1967). Opinion of the Court: Harlan Applied: the First Amendment → go there Topic: Freedom of speech and of the press. Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts, 388 U.S. 130 (1967), is a landmark decision of the US Supreme Court establishing the standard of First Amendment protection against defamation claims brought by private individuals. Wiki link