A plaintiff cannot be an all purpose public figure if he or she is not a person of interest to the public. This exception to the public figure doctrine was first recognized in the 18th century, when a person could be classified as an all purpose public figure if their actions were "involuntary or akin to a cult." In 1886, a renowned American religious leader, Rabbi Abraham Abdallah, argued that the United States Constitution did not require the government to disclose the identity of a terrorist.  car wreck lawyers houston

Limited-purpose public figures, on the other hand, have activities that they do for a living. This type of public figure, for example, is a journeyman basketball player, as opposed to a professional big-leaguer. As a limited-purpose public figure, statements about an individual's career must involve topics that are viewed as popular. In addition, defamation law only applies to statements about a person's career and not their personal life. Limited-purpose public figures, such as retired generals, can lose their status because of the controversy.

Limited-purpose public figures, on the other hand, remain public figures only as long as the public has a continuing interest in the controversy surrounding them. Such limited-purpose public figures may easily lose their status if the controversy surrounding them is forgotten. However, most of these people retain their status for a long time, despite the fact that their fame has dwindled. For example, the woman who publicly dated Elvis Presley remained a public figure for as long as she was linked to the Presley scandal.

Limited-purpose public figures are not all-purpose. Instead, they are individuals whose fame is limited to one controversy. Those who have seized the public's attention for a specific reason, such as a recent lawsuit against an insurance company, have been defined as limited-purpose public figures. They use media to shape the public's discourse and can only remain public figures for so long. However, these types of figures are difficult to distinguish.

In order to make a plaintiff an all-purpose public figure, the defendant must prove that the plaintiff has the necessary fame, notoriety, and role in society. Such evidence can include statistical survey data on the level of name recognition that the plaintiff has among the public. The court may also look at past coverage of the plaintiff in the media. Evidence of how others changed their behavior in response to the plaintiff's actions can be considered. They may also consider any other relevant evidence.

In a similar vein, there are many other examples of limited-purpose public figures. These individuals have made themselves famous through a certain skill or activity. They are not Kobe Bryants or Dean Eramos. The plaintiff must prove that the publication was malicious or conducted a shoddy investigation. It cannot be claimed that they had the intention to defame her. This case also demonstrates that the limited-purpose public figure doctrine applies to a broad category of public figures.