Browse 16 actual malice standard cases decided by Fourth Circuit. AI-powered summaries, holdings, and legal analysis.
Statements about public controversy are protected opinion, not defamation
Crystal Rice v. Scott Adams, decided by Fourth Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brough...
Fourth Circuit: Defamation plaintiff failed to prove falsity or malice
Cheryl Metz v. Laurie McCarthy, decided by Fourth Circuit on February 25, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the d...
Defamation claim fails: Plaintiff not identified in statements
Christine Gibbons v. Betty Gibbs, decided by Fourth Circuit on February 11, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Based on Qualified Privilege
Madhusudan Katti v. Warwick Arden, decided by Fourth Circuit on December 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsui...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim for Lack of Specificity
Alia Al-Sabah v. World Business Lenders, LLC, decided by Fourth Circuit on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defam...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim Over Qualified Privilege
Alia Al-Sabah v. World Business Lenders, LLC, decided by Fourth Circuit on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defam...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for HSUS in Defamation Case
Jennifer Finn v. Humane Society of the United States, decided by Fourth Circuit on November 20, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. Jennifer Finn sued the Humane Society of the United States (H...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Samuel Sherbrooke Corporate, Ltd v. Gabriel Mayer, decided by Fourth Circuit on November 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summar...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
John Moretti v. Helga Thorsdottir, decided by Fourth Circuit on October 15, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the...
Fourth Circuit: No Actual Malice Found in Defamation Claim Against Blogger
Gray Media Group, Inc. v. Heather Loveridge, decided by Fourth Circuit on September 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary jud...
Officer's actions reasonable, qualified immunity granted
Mary Herkert v. Frank Bisignano, decided by Fourth Circuit on August 14, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the de...
Former Employee's Defamation Claim Against Employer Fails
Elizabeth Goldberg v. Television Tower, Inc., decided by Fourth Circuit on August 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgme...
Public figure defamation claim fails for lack of actual malice
Television Tower, Inc. v. Elizabeth Goldberg, decided by Fourth Circuit on August 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgme...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Aida Elzagally v. Khalifa Hifter, decided by Fourth Circuit on June 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit reviewed a district court's grant of summary judgment to the defend...
Defamation suit dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction over foreign defendant
Aida Elzagally v. Khalifa Hifter, decided by Fourth Circuit on June 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a defamation lawsuit filed by Aida Elzagally against Khalifa Hifter...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Against RFK Jr.
Timothy Baxter v. Robert Kennedy, Jr., decided by Fourth Circuit on April 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation laws...
CaseLawBrief currently tracks 16 actual malice standard cases from Fourth Circuit. This number is updated as new opinions are published.
Outcome breakdown: Defendant Win: 16.
Each case page on CaseLawBrief includes an AI-generated plain English summary, key holdings, and legal analysis. Click any case above to read its full analysis.