This story was prominently featured on CNN's homepage today, and I think rightly so. Though it has been years since the man, husband and father to "Elizabeth" and "Chris" died, I think the story is powerful and worth telling. It also ties in to a number of other stories that have been published within the last year or so about the Marianna reform school that allegedly turned "Edward" into an abusive alcoholic.
Although horrifying, the story is compelling. I feel like when something this awful has happened, again, allegedly, the public is confused as to how such a thing occured and curious as to what will happen next. Both this story, also on CNN, and this one, chronicle the abuses suffered by the attendees at the Florida School for Boys.
Despite happening decades ago, the story is timely because the men, the White House Boys Survivors, are still feeling and dealing with the effects of having been inmates at that place. It still affects "Elizabeth" and "Chris." It is a part of their lives, having lived so many years with a man who was driven to abuse and drinking as a result, so he claimed, of having been beaten repeatedly during his adolescent years. He transferred that onto his son, "Chris", who admits to struggling with rage and alcohol abuse.
And, with class discussions about libel, I cannot help but wonder about the defendants that have been named in the lawsuit, specifically Tidwell and Curry, former employees of the school. Tidwell has declined to comment to CNN, but did tell another publication that he and other guards did in fact "spank" the boys. I do not know that Tidwell could sue for libel. It appears he is not going to. But, if he did, I don't think he would win. The story was published, he has been identified (along with others), and the story could harm his reputation. However, he would have to prove the allegations of the former school attendees false, which he cannot entirely do as he admitted to beating them. Also, I do not think anyone would find any publisher of this story negligent in naming Curry and Tidwell. Curry is simply named as a defendant and former school employee. Tidwell commented to the newspaper and became part of the story. I think the various articles have handled the story well.
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Interesting examination Paige. I agree with you that CNN did an excellent job reporting the story, and the alleged abusers likely have no recourse for a lawsuit. But that is probably because the abuse was so widely reported and documented by several victims. I don't think that Tidwell admitting to "spanking" the kids necessarily is an admission of abuse. A simple spanking is not legally abuse in most states. Obviously, we assume that these spankings were more like beatings. But when considering libel, we can't make these assumptions.
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