Truth
Colorado Court Affirms Dismissal of Anti-Abortion Activist’s Libel Suit
Steve ZansbergThe Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s granting of defendant’s anti-SLAPP motion terminating the libel case brought by anti-abortion activist David Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress against Dr. Savita Ginde, the former medical director of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountain Region.
Fourth Circuit Hears First Amendment Challenge to North Carolina Election Libel Law
Benjamin RossiAppellants argue that the North Carolina statute violates the First Amendment because it is a content-based restriction that criminalizes core political speech.
Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Gannett
Brian SpahnThe court held that the allegedly defamatory statements at issue failed to state a defamation claim as the statements were both substantially true and protected under Wisconsin’s true and fair reporting of a judicial proceeding privilege.
Colorado Court Grants News Anchor’s Anti-SLAPP Motion
Steven D. ZansbergIn only the second case to date to apply Colorado’s anti-SLAPP Act (passed into law in 2019) to a news outlet, a trial court judge tossed a defamation case against Kyle Clark, the nightly news anchor at KUSA-TV/9News, the TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate in Denver.
Delaware Court Upholds Dismissal of Libel Suit by Former Trump Campaign Adviser Against Yahoo News and HuffPost
Jeff GrossmanIn upholding the manner in which Yahoo News reported on aspects of the government’s investigation related to what later came to be known as the “Steele Dossier,” the 4-1 decision represents an affirmation of the legal protections for reporting on government investigations.
Federal Court Dismisses Defamation, Fraud Claims Against Producers and Spotify for “Son of a Hitman” Podcast
Reid PillifantParker’s lawsuit claimed the 10-part series had “irrevocably damaged her reputation” by insinuating she had schemed with the F.B.I. to convict Harrelson, and that producers had fraudulently induced her participation in the podcast when they failed to disclose that Harrelson’s son, Brett, served as an executive producer.
Florida Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of $50 Million Libel Suit
Karen Williams KammerFlorida’s Third District Court of Appeal found that what WPLG/Local 10 had reported about pastor Eric Readon in 2017 was true in all material respects.
New York Times Wins Dismissal of Libel Suit from Trump Campaign
Alexandra SettelmayerThe Trump Campaign, alleging “millions of dollars” in damages, brought the suit over a 2019 Op-Ed by Max Frankel which concerned interactions between Russians and associates of Mr. Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.
It’s Just a Parking Space, Gentlemen
Kevin GoeringA New York County Supreme Court judge has rendered the latest decision in the two-year old saga (and defamation case) of Cieszkowski v. Baldwin. The case is familiar to most New Yorkers, as the defendant is Alec Baldwin.
Gannett Wins Summary Judgment on Defamation by Hyperlink Claim
Brian C. SpahnSometimes a hyperlink is the last word in a defamation case.