HILO >> Big Island rancher Alfred "Freddy" Nobriga is suing the Environment Hawaii newsletter and its editor, Patricia Tummons, for allegedly defaming him. Big Island rancher
sues newsletter for
alleged defamationA report claimed Alfred Nobriga
had "repeated infractions"Star-Bulletin staff
In the June issue, Tummons published a report saying the state complained to Nobriga about cattle from his Puu Oo Ranch passing through broken fences and trespassing on state forest reserve land.
The story also alleged "repeated infractions" by Nobriga over 14 years, including building a house on the ranch in alleged violation of a state lease and receiving eight notices of being delinquent in lease payments.
Nobriga's attorney Brian De Lima called the "repeated infractions" statement false.
Nobriga received Department of Land & Natural Resources permission to build the house, De Lima said.
Nobriga made all lease payments, although he was late "maybe a couple of times" by anywhere from one week to two months, De Lima said.
The suit says Tummons had a duty not to cause Nobriga "emotional injury."
Tummons denied that journalists have such a duty.
Tummons said: "The charges in the complaint are utterly baseless. What is more, they are an affront to constitutionally protected free speech. Everything in the article was supported by documents in the public record."
The Internet version of the Environment Hawaii story displays a quote from Nobriga in red letters saying, "We have been good tenants in the past and look forward to working with the DLNR in the future."