Defamation
Connecticut Supreme Court Affirms Right of Immediate Appeal of Anti-SLAPP Decisions
Alexa MillingerConnecticut joins 16 states in holding that anti-SLAPP motions to dismiss may be immediately appealed rather than waiting for the conclusion of the case.
Virginia Federal Court Grants Gannett’s Motion to Dismiss Defamation Lawsuit Brought by Prominent Anti-Vaxxer and Covid Critic
Michael J. GrygielThe threshold dismissal was particularly welcome — and appropriate — because the Complaint targeted the newspaper’s reporting on a newsworthy community event implicating vitally important public health issues.
Proposed Florida Defamation Legislation
Sarah Papadelias and Rachel FugateOne proposal that was introduced during the session was an effort to overhaul defamation law in Florida by making it “easier” to sue media outlets in Florida.
Court Dismisses Trump’s Tortious Interference Claim Against The New York Times
Samantha C. HamiltonJudge Reed’s decision is especially important for reporters who have sources with NDAs.
Summary Judgment Awarded to Obstacle Course Racing Blogger
Madeleine Blair, Isabel White and Lindsey FloydIn a 74-page decision, the court dismissed all defamation and defamation per se claims against Davis for insufficient evidence of actual malice.
D.C. Court of Appeal Affirms Anti-SLAPP Fee Award in “Steele Dossier” Case
Chuck TobinThe court’s decision significantly strengthens arguments for defendants to recover fees under the District’s anti-SLAPP law, including the fees they expend in litigating entitlement to fees.
Arizona Supreme Court Finds Radio Host’s Statements Protected as Opinion, Political Speech
Michael J. LambertThe Arizona Supreme Court has issued a ringing endorsement for the safeguards provided to opinions and political speech in a defamation case involving a local radio talk show host.
Long-Run Effects of Dominion v. Fox
George FreemanThe judge’s decision to dismiss any argument based on the neutral reportage privilege was a lost opportunity. It could have corrected one of the few areas where good journalism and the law diverge.
Stop the Steal Organizer’s Narrowed Defamation Claim Proceeds to Discovery
Matthew CateRuling on a motion to dismiss, Judge Pitman held that an article’s characterizations of plaintiff as a “Jan. 6 Capitol riot organizer” and a person who “helped coordinate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection” were capable of being proven true or false, and therefore actionable in defamation, and that Bostic adequately pleaded the defendants published them…
Satanic Temple Lawsuit Against Newsweek Magazine Largely Dismissed
Cameron Stracher and Sara TesorieroThe Southern District of New York held that twenty-one of the twenty-two statements were not defamatory as a matter of law.