The plaintiff brought a motion shortly before trial seeking a determination under Rule 21.01(1)(a) of the Rules of Civil Procedure that a televised documentary was prima facie defamatory, along with directions regarding the order of evidence and a proposed bifurcation of liability and damages.
The court held that although questions about defamatory meaning can sometimes be determined before trial, such motions must be brought promptly under Rule 21.02.
Because the action had been underway for nine years and the motion was brought only weeks before trial, the request for a Rule 21 determination was refused.
The court also declined to modify the usual order of presentation of evidence in a jury trial or to bifurcate liability and damages absent party consent.
The plaintiff was granted leave to file a DVD of the documentary as part of the record.
