Explore 25 opinion vs fact in defamation court cases in Ohio. AI-powered summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
Defamation suit affirmed; plaintiff failed to prove actual malice.
Evans v. Myers, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 26, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Evans, sued the defendant, Myers, for defamation after Myers posted allegedly fa...
Ohio Court Affirms Defamation Claim Dismissal, Citing Protected Speech
Whitney v. Baker, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 25, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Whitney, sued the defendant, Baker, for defamation after Baker posted allegedl...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment in defamation case
McDonald v. Foos, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, McDonald, sued the defendant, Foos, for defamation, alleging that Foos made fa...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Defendant in Contract Dispute
Brown v. Branscomb, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 20, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Brown, sued the defendant, Branscomb, for breach of contract and unjust enri...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Negligence Case
Benton v. Walker, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Benton, sued the defendant, Walker, for damages arising from a car accident. B...
Appellate court allows defamation claim to proceed over online statements
Mesenbrick v. Hartley, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 13, 2026, resulted in a mixed outcome. The plaintiff, Mesenbrick, sued the defendant, Hartley, for defamation after Hartley posted alle...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Cole v. Schoenberger, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 3, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Cole, sued the defendant, Schoenberger, for defamation after Schoenberger p...
Court Rules Online Statements Were Opinion, Not Defamation
Morgensen v. Pullin, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Morgensen, sued the defendant, Pullin, for defamation after Pullin posted al...
Appellate court affirms dismissal of defamation and IIED claims
R.S. v. Rindler, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 20, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, R.S., sought to appeal the trial court's decision to dismiss her complaint a...
Online reviews found to be protected opinion, not defamation
Culgan v. Hanlin, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Culgan, sued the defendant, Hanlin, for defamation after Hanlin posted nega...
Ohio Court Affirms Defamation Claim Dismissal for Lack of Proof
Pluskota v. McVicker, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 11, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Pluskota, sued the defendant, McVicker, for defamation. The core disput...
Court finds no defamation due to lack of actual malice
Arthur v. Weir, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Arthur, sued the defendant, Weir, for defamation after Weir posted allegedly f...
Ohio Court Affirms Defamation Judgment for False Online Statements
Maki v. Scherzer, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 6, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The plaintiff, Maki, sued the defendant, Scherzer, for defamation after Scherzer posted all...
Defamation plaintiff fails to prove falsity or actual malice
Cleveland v. Damato, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Cleveland, sued the defendant, Damato, for defamation. Cleveland alleged ...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Grippando-Wright v. Smith, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Grippando-Wright, sued the defendant, Smith, for defamation after S...
Online reviews protected as opinion, not defamation
Pizzuli v. Yurko, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on January 29, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Pizzuli, sued the defendant, Yurko, for defamation after Yurko posted negati...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Over Online Statements
Lamancusa v. Webb, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on January 27, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Lamancusa, sued the defendant, Webb, for defamation after Webb posted alleg...
Defamation claim fails for lack of proof of falsity and malice
Domaradzki v. Dennis, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Domaradzki, sued the defendant, Dennis, for defamation after Dennis pos...
Ohio Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim
Hall v. Wooster, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hall, sued the defendant, Wooster, for alleged defamation. Hall claimed Woos...
Statements about terrorism not defamatory per se without proof of falsity
Hussein v. Freeman, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hussein, sued the defendant, Freeman, for defamation after Freeman publis...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation case
Souare v. Guzzo, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Souare, sued the defendant, Guzzo, for defamation after Guzzo posted alleged...
Plaintiff fails to prove falsity in defamation claim, court affirms summary judgment
Holtz v. Gray, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Holtz, sued the defendant, Gray, for defamation after Gray posted allegedly fal...
Ohio Court Affirms Judgment for Defendant in Defamation Case
Marks v. Welch, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Marks, sued the defendant, Welch, for defamation, alleging that Welch made fal...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Via v. Boyle, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Via, sued the defendant, Boyle, for defamation after Boyle posted allegedly fals...
Ohio Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim Based on Opinion
Martin v. James, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Martin, sued the defendant, James, for defamation after James posted alleged...
CaseLawBrief currently tracks 25 opinion vs fact in defamation cases from courts in Ohio. New cases are added as opinions are published.
Courts deciding opinion vs fact in defamation cases in Ohio include: ohioctapp (25 cases).
Outcome breakdown: Defendant Win: 23, Mixed: 1, Plaintiff Win: 1.