Partial Victory For Journalist
HONOLULU - A Seattle journalist was not trespassing when he was arrested on Lanai while covering the wedding of computer-software billionaire Bill Gates, a state judge ruled yesterday.
Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto granted partial summary judgment in favor of Scott Rensberger, who was working for KIRO.
Mark Davis, attorney for Rensberger, said Raffetto ruled that Hulopo`e Beach Park, where Rensberger was arrested, is a public forum for the purposes of exercising constitutionally protected activities.
Rensberger and 11 other journalists were evicted from the island or told to stay out of the public beach park and all property owned by the Lanai Co. on Jan. 1, 1994, the day of Gates' wedding to Melinda French.
Trial of Rensberger's civil lawsuit against Gates and the Lanai Co. is scheduled to begin April 10 in Maui Circuit Court.