Libel-in-Fiction

I know we're a journalism class and we're discussing libel predominantly in terms of journalism, but I found a rare case that was just too interesting to pass up.

The television show "Law & Order" is currently battling a libel case for their supposed representation of a real-life person through a fictional character. Ravi Batra, a Manhattan lawyer who some suspect is linked to a bribery scandal in 2003, is suing the show's creator, arguing that a character featured on the show was deliberately modeled after him. The character featured in this particular 2003 episode was named Ravi Patel, and is a bald, Indian-American lawyer who is seen bribing a judge. Is it just me, or is that strikingly similar to another bald, Indian-American lawyer named Ravi?

Of course, NBC is denying that the character was based on Ravi Batra. In my opinion, Batra's claims are true. But whether or not it's libel, I'm not so sure. This is rare because it wasn't done in print and the man's name wasn't actually used. It could be argued that a televesion program is technically published and therefore could be constituted as libel. It's just a little tricky. Anyone who watches the show and has heard of the scandal that Batra may or may not have been involved with could easily mistake the character's fictional actions as a factual representation of Batra's supposed real-life actions.

I personally think that's exactly what the show was trying to do. A man with the same first name, similar physical attributes, same profession, working in the same city... bribing a judge? Coincidence? I say "HELL NO!" But I think they'll be able to get away with it. In any case, I'll definitely be interested to hear the verdict.