Judge tosses suit against Moore

A federal judge in Detroit on Thursday threw out a libel and defamation lawsuit filed against filmmaker Michael Moore by the brother of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols.

U.S. District Court Judge Paul D. Borman ruled that statements Moore made about James Nichols in the 2002 “Bowling for Columbine” documentary were “factual and substantially true.”

James Nichols claimed in the lawsuit that the statements could be misinterpreted by viewers to inaccurately link him to the bombing. He also claimed the film invaded his privacy and inflicted emotional distress.

Borman said Nichols, a farmer, was considered a public figure for the purposes of the lawsuit, because he “voluntarily injected himself into the public controversy surrounding the bombing” by such steps as granting interviews and helping write a book.