Defamation
Controversial Politician Kari Lake Loses Anti-SLAPP Motion, Showing Flaws in Arizona Statute
Gregg LeslieThe recent denial of a controversial Arizona anti-SLAPP motion by politician Kari Lake has demonstrated the flaws and unanswered questions hidden in the Arizona Anti-SLAPP law, which was amended in 2022 and has yet to be the subject of an appellate decision.
Dismissal of Golfer’s Defamation Suit and Fee Award Tees Up 11th Circuit’s Consideration of Anti-SLAPP in Federal Court
Linda Riedemann NorbutThe availability of Florida anti-SLAPP protection in federal court is teed up for resolution by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals following the award of sanctions to media defendants who prevailed on claims by professional golfer Patrick Reed.
It’s “OK” To Call a Police Officer Racist
John C. Greiner and Darren FordThe court had little trouble concluding that the allegedly offending statements were opinion protected under Ohio law.
New Jersey Appellate Division Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claims Against Prominent Local Blogger
Joe Slaughter and Seth BerlinThe decision capped a long and winding case that ended up providing speech-friendly precedents on a number of valuable topics.
New York Times Awarded Nearly $400,000 in Trump Suit
Maya GandhiThe decision arose from a lawsuit alleging that The Times had engaged in tortious interference by persuading Mr. Trump’s niece, Mary, to provide family financial documents to the reporters despite a confidentiality agreement that Mary and other family members had entered into as part of a settlement of an estate dispute.
Another Unconstitutional Defamation Bill Proposed in Florida
Jim LakeProposed 2024 legislation would penalize use of anonymous sources and codify the ability of defamation plaintiffs to sue anywhere in the state for speech posted online.
Defamation Action Against The National Enquirer Dismissed on Summary Judgment
Robert S. GutierrezAfter more than three years of litigation with three successive law firms, talent manager Michael Sanchez’s defamation action against the National Enquirer was dismissed on summary judgment in August by Judge Dolly Gee. Yet it was not until October that the storied lawsuit was officially over.
Florida Court Throws Out Heart Surgeon’s Defamation Suit Against CNN
Matt Kristoffersen“It is disingenuous and anomalous on the part of Dr. Black and St. Mary’s to say on the one hand that CNN should be held liable for failing to report risk adjusted data, and on the other hand to deny CNN access to that very same data,” Senior Judge Richard Oftedal wrote in the decision.
Third Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Internet Defamation Claims as Time-Barred
Elizabeth Seidlin-BernsteinIn concluding that the claims were time-barred under Pennsylvania’s one-year statute of limitations for defamation, the Third Circuit provided welcome clarity on the application of the single-publication rule to statements made on the internet and by journalists during the reporting process.
NBCUniversal Wins Dismissal of January 6 Activist’s Defamation Complaint
Natalie J. Spears, Samuel Fifer, Gregory R. Naron and Jessica Laurin MeekIn a strongly worded opinion, Judge Bataillon of the District of Nebraska granted NBCU’s motion to dismiss with prejudice on substantial truth grounds.