Opinion
Article Tying Nursing Home Magnate to Human Trafficking, Medicaid Fraud & Elder Abuse Protected As Fair Report, True, and Opinion
Alia SmithJudge Azrack held that the challenged statements – concerning the poor quality of some of Landa’s nursing homes and alleged financial and other improprieties – were fair reports under N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 74, were substantially true, or were non-actionable opinions.
Virginia Court Dismisses Homeowners’ Case Over B-Roll Footage in Jan. 6 News Story
Hilary OranThough courts rarely find that a party has been fraudulently joined, the court did so in this instance.
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.
Court Dismissed Defamation Case Arising from Environmental Advocacy Group’s Campaign to Protect Canadian Forests
Chelsea Kelly and Laura HandmanAfter seven years of litigation, court ruled that defendants had not acted with actual malice and dismissed the case in full.
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.
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.
Texas Supreme Court Reaffirms Protection for Opinion
Samuel W. CalkinsThe Court held unanimously that the statements were opinions in the context of the national abortion debate.
Defamation Suit Against Daily Beast Dismissed
Andrew M. PauwelsThis case should serve as a reminder to media defense attorneys of the many arguments available at the initial motion phase, even in states like Michigan where there is no anti-SLAPP law.
Texas Appeals Court SLAPPs Lawsuit Against Community Newspaper
Samuel CalkinsThe term “right wing propaganda” in the context of the article was a constitutionally protected opinion and a statutorily privileged fair comment on a matter of public concern.
On Leakers and Lakers: Reflections on Two Recent MLRC Zoom Sessions
George FreemanMLRC's executive director reflects on tthe recent SCOTUS leak, and a retraction demand sent by Jerry West to the producers of HBO's "Winning Time."