Like many others, I went right to the article to see who dissented. It was Alito, whose phrase “verbal assault” is crucial, in this case “vicious,” which is also crucial, I’m sure. Which would leave courts the job of deciding what’s an assault and what’s vicious, and that could be knotty indeed. I speak as a newspaper reader, period, will be looking for other comments, needless to say.
Blithe Spirit 
Justice Alito’s position in this case is untenable, as it would introduce an unacceptable level of subjectivity and arbitrariness into every Free Speech case and encourage the use of lawsuits to prevent the expression of disagreeable opinions. I am pleased that the Court ruled this way by an 8-1 vote when freedom of speech is under attack from so many quarters. Will some people be hurt and aggrieved by other people’s expressions? Of course – some grievously so. But there are some wrongs that cannot be remedied by man’s law, if the law is to be fairly applied and serve the general welfare.
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