Netflix Beats Defamation Suit Over ‘Making a Murderer’ Docuseries
Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A federal judge has thrown out a defamation suit brought by a retired police officer who argued that the Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer” falsely accused him of planting evidence. In a ruling on summary judgment on Friday, Judge Brett Ludwig found that the plaintiff, Andrew Colborn, had failed to show that Netflix or the filmmakers had acted with “actual malice” in crafting their portrayal of him. The docuseries, which debuted in December 2015, pursued the defense theory that police had framed a man, Steven Avery, for a murder he did not commit. Avery was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, though he continues to seek various appeals.