Browse 25 defamation law cases decided by D.C. Circuit. AI-powered summaries, holdings, and legal analysis.
Attorney's statements during litigation are privileged, barring defamation claim
Jane Doe v. Todd Blanche, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns whether a former client, Jane Doe, could sue her former attorney, Todd Blan...
D.C. Circuit: Trump's presidential immunity doesn't cover private conduct
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a affirmed outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defamation l...
Former President Trump's defamation suit immunity claims rejected
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defamat...
Former President Trump's defamation suit immunity claims rejected
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defamat...
Senator Rubio's Statements Protected Under First Amendment in Defamation Case
Susan Qashu v. Marco Rubio, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 10, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a defamation claim brought by Susan Qashu against Senator Marco Rubio. Qa...
Former President Trump's defamation suit immunity claims rejected
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on December 15, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defa...
Former President Trump's pre-presidency statements not immune from defamation suit
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on December 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defa...
D.C. Circuit Denies Protective Order in Defamation Case
J.G.G. v. Donald Trump (EN BANC ORDER), decided by D.C. Circuit on November 14, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting en banc, reviewed a district court...
D.C. Circuit Affirms Dismissal of False Claims Act Suit Against Novartis
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., decided by D.C. Circuit on September 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether Novartis Pharmac...
Former President Trump Not Granted Absolute Immunity in Defamation Lawsuit
Lisa Cook v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on September 15, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case concerns whether former President Donald Trump is entitled to absolute immunity...
Presidential Immunity Shields Trump from Defamation Lawsuit
Lisa Cook v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on September 11, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute in this case involved whether former President Donald Trump could be sue...
Trump's Statements Protected by Absolute Immunity, Court Rules
Rebecca Slaughter v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on September 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether former President Donald Trump could be sued for ...
D.C. Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Trump Over COVID-19 Statements
Global Health Council v. Donald J. Trump (AMENDED OPINION), decided by D.C. Circuit on August 28, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of...
Union statements about member protected as opinion, not defamation
Eugene Hudson, Jr. v. American Federation of Government Employees, decided by D.C. Circuit on August 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Eugene Hudson, Jr., sued the American...
Newspaper Article Not Defamatory; Summary Judgment Affirmed
Nicole Pileggi v. Washington Newspaper Publishing Company, LLC, decided by D.C. Circuit on August 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether the defendant, a n...
Trump not immune from defamation suit over Jan 6th statements
Rebecca Slaughter v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 21, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute involved whether former President Donald Trump could be sued in his p...
Trump immune from defamation suit for official statements
Susan Grundmann v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether former President Donald Trump could be sued in his pers...
D.C. Circuit Shields RFE/RL from Defamation Suit Under Noerr-Pennington and CDA 230
RFE/RL, Inc. v. Kari Lake, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by Kari ...
Court Shields Foreign Media Group from Defamation Suit Under Noerr-Pennington
RFE/RL, Inc. v. Kari Lake, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by Kari ...
Court Orders Specific Performance of Settlement Agreement in Discrimination Case
John Doe v. Jonathan McKernan, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 1, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the enforceability of a settlement agreement reached in a...
Arbitration clause not binding if not signed
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., decided by D.C. Circuit on June 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. could c...
Appeals Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation and APA Claims
25-5144 Patsy Widakuswara v. Kari Lake; 25-5145 Michael Abramowitz v. Kari Lake; 25-5150 Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. v. USA; & 25-5151 Radio Free Asia v. USA, decided by D.C. Circuit on Ju...
Appeals Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claims Against Kari Lake and U.S.
25-5144 Patsy Widakuswara v. Kari Lake; 25-5145 Michael Abramowitz v. Kari Lake; 25-5150 Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. v. USA; & 25-5151 Radio Free Asia v. USA, decided by D.C. Circuit on Ma...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suits Against Arizona Mirror
Patsy Widakuswara v. Kari Lake; Michael Abramowitz v. Kari Lake, decided by D.C. Circuit on May 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case consolidated two appeals concerning Kari Lake's...
D.C. Circuit Shields RFE/RL from Defamation Suit Under Noerr-Pennington and CDA 230
RFE/RL, Inc. v. Kari Lake, decided by D.C. Circuit on May 7, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by Kari L...
CaseLawBrief currently tracks 25 defamation law cases from D.C. Circuit. This number is updated as new opinions are published.
Outcome breakdown: Defendant Win: 21, Affirmed: 1, Plaintiff Win: 3.
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.