Global Freedom of Expression

São Paulo Railway Company (CPTM) v. Editora 3

In Progress Expands Expression

Key Details

  • Mode of Expression
    Press / Newspapers
  • Date of Decision
    April 7, 2016
  • Outcome
    Affirmed Lower Court, Judgment in Favor of Defendant
  • Case Number
    1059825-92.2013.8.26.0100
  • Region & Country
    Brazil, Latin-America and Caribbean
  • Judicial Body
    Appellate Court
  • Type of Law
    Civil Law, Constitutional Law
  • Themes
    Access to Public Information, Defamation / Reputation, Press Freedom
  • Tags
    Public Interest, Honor and Reputation

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Case Analysis

Case Summary and Outcome

The State of São Paulo Court of Appeals found the publication of investigative news reports into fraudulent schemes allegedly committed by the State of São Paulo Railway Company were legitimate and enjoyed the protection of the Freedom of the Press clause of the Brazilian Constitution. The reports concerned a scandal involving the government of the State of São Paulo and several the railway companies, including the State-owned railway. The Court held that the reports merely recounted facts and faithfully reproduced the opinions of investigators, and that as a publicly owned company, the Railway Company must tolerate greater scrutiny by the media.


Facts

In July 2013, the magazine IstoÉ published two reports on alleged overpricing, bid rigging and corruption in public contracts for the construction of new metro lines in the capital of the State of São Paulo. The Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM, the State of São Paulo Railroad Company), the bidder, filed a lawsuit claiming damages, alleging that the allegations were untrue and based on abstractions and suppositions.

Grupo 3, the owner of the magazine, argued in its defense that the news reports were clear and objective, and that they concerned an issue of public interest. Grupo 3 argued furthermore that the criticism had been aimed at the conduct of CPTM’s managers and not at the company, and that CPTM had not denied the allegations. In fact, investigations were ongoing and the news reports merely reproduced the conclusions of the responsible authorities. Finally, Grupo 3 argued that all quotes had been clearly indicated by using quotation marks and that their authors were all identified.

The first instance court dismissed CPTM’s claims, holding that both reports were truthful and protected under the right to freedom of expression, and noting that that numerous other publishers had published similar reports. CPTM appealed to the Court of Appeals.


Decision Overview

On April 7, 2016 Justice Eduardo Giacoia denied CPTM’s appeal and upheld the ruling of the first instance court. He held that both news reports were fully legitimate and enjoyed the protection of the Freedom of the Press clause of the Brazilian Constitution. The reports merely recounted investigations conducted by the Federal Competition Bureau and the European competition authorities (as there were European companies involved), and the settlement agreement reached with Siemens, one of the parties to the fraudulent scheme. In addition, the articles reported on the conclusions that the prosecutors had reached in their investigations. As such, there was no objectionable content in the news reports whatsoever. Both were truthful and grounded in the so-called animus narrandi – the right to tell what happens – without any distortion or personal conclusions about innocence or guilt.

Moreover, Justice Eduardo Giacoia emphasized that CPTM is a state-owned company. It belongs to the people of the State of São Paulo, who have a legitimate interest in knowing how it conducts it affairs. It follows that it should tolerate greater public scrutiny of its functioning by the media.


Decision Direction

Quick Info

Decision Direction indicates whether the decision expands or contracts expression based on an analysis of the case.

Expands Expression

Court reaffirmed the sovereign of the press and the strong protection afforded to investigative journalism when its reports are fact-based and truthful. The Court also upheld the right of the media to report on matters of public interest, and emphasized that the public have a right to know how publicly-owned companies run their affairs.

Global Perspective

Quick Info

Global Perspective demonstrates how the court’s decision was influenced by standards from one or many regions.

Table of Authorities

National standards, law or jurisprudence

  • Braz., Constitution of Brazil (1988), art. 5(X)

Case Significance

Quick Info

Case significance refers to how influential the case is and how its significance changes over time.

Decision (including concurring or dissenting opinions) establishes influential or persuasive precedent outside its jurisdiction.

Although not binding, this decision is important since it liberalizes the reporting on one of Brazil’s many recent scandals, protecting the right of journalists to report  on matters of public interest regardless of who is involved.

Official Case Documents

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