Explore 25 court opinions on Distinction Between Fact And Opinion In Defamation. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
25 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Summers v. Catlin, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Summers, sued the defendant, Catlin, for defamation after Catlin posted al...
Texas Court Affirms Dismissal of Negligence Claim Over Sovereign Immunity
Patrick Minor v. Lee Woo Sung, Jr., decided by Texas Court of Appeals on April 15, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Patrick Minor, sued the defendant, Lee Woo Sung, Jr., for i...
Court finds some defamatory statements of fact, not protected opinion
Dove v. Simmons, decided by Maryland Court of Appeals on April 13, 2026, resulted in a mixed outcome. The plaintiff, Dove, sued the defendant, Simmons, for defamation after Simmons published statement...
Appellate Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Morgan v. Dixon, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on April 8, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Morgan, sued the defendant, Dixon, for defamation after Dixon posted ...
Statements of Opinion Not Defamatory as a Matter of Law
Priyanka Bhasin v. Sahil Behl, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 31, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Priyanka Bhasin, sued the defendant, Sahil Behl, for defamation,...
Court finds some online statements may be defamatory, remands case
Morgan v. Keenan, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 25, 2026, resulted in a remanded outcome. The plaintiff, Morgan, sued the defendant, Keenan, for defamation after Keenan posted allegedly fa...
Appellate court partially affirms dismissal of business dispute claims
John F. Schutz, P.L. v. Jared Schwalb, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 25, 2026, resulted in a mixed outcome. The appellate court reviewed a trial court's order that dismissed a p...
Statements of Fact vs. Opinion in Defamation Case
Clapkin v. Levin, decided by California Court of Appeal on March 16, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The plaintiff, Clapkin, sued the defendant, Levin, for defamation after Levin published ...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Kendricks v. Hart, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 16, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Kendricks, sued the defendant, Hart, for defamation after Hart pos...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Jacobs v. Papez, decided by California Court of Appeal on March 13, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Jacobs, sued the defendant, Papez, for defamation after Papez posted alleg...
Statements in Prior Litigation Protected by Absolute Privilege
Jonathan Andrew Dourm v. Linda Sherry Breslin, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 10, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The appellate court reviewed a trial court's decision...
Online reviews of horse farm deemed opinion, not defamation
Donald Stewart and Kathy Stewart, D/B/A Royal Horse Farms, Jennifer Stewart, and Steven Stewart v. Sharon Lee, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. ...
Statements of Opinion Not Defamatory; Dismissal Affirmed
Ashley Catherine Osborne v. Marzio Bonanni, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The appellate court reviewed a trial court's decision to ...
Public figure defamation claim fails for lack of actual malice
Semaan v. Mosier, decided by California Court of Appeal on February 26, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Semaan, sued the defendant, Mosier, for defamation after Mosier made a...
Fourth Circuit: Defamation claim against Pete Hegseth can proceed
Isaiah Wilkins v. Pete Hegseth, decided by Fourth Circuit on February 18, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to dismiss a de...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Due to Lack of Actual Malice
Flippin v. Gray, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Flippin, sued the defendant, Gray, for defamation, alleging that Gray made f...
Statements of Opinion, Not Fact, Not Defamatory
McCord Henry v. Martin Blank, decided by Sixth Circuit on February 12, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the defen...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation suit
Kara Cunningham v. Everett Trost, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on February 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Kara Cunningham, sued the defendant, Everett Trost, for def...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Gerard v. Cuevas, decided by California Court of Appeal on February 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Gerard, sued the defendant, Cuevas, for defamation after Cuevas posted ...
Appellate Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Roberts v. Boyer, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on February 4, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Roberts, sued the defendant, Boyer, for defamation after Boyer po...
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...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation suit
Yuqian Gan v. Arnoldus Mathijssen, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 29, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Yuqian Gan, sued the defendant, Arnoldus Mathijssen, for d...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Iloff v. LaPaille, decided by California Court of Appeal on December 23, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Iloff, sued the defendant, LaPaille, for defamation after LaPaille po...
Public Figure Plaintiff Fails to Prove Actual Malice in Defamation Case
Lindsay Datko and Jefferson County Students First d/b/a Jeffco Kids First v. Colorado News Conservancy, PBC d/b/a Arvada Press and Rylee Dunn, decided by Colorado Supreme Court on December 22, 2025, r...
Statements accusing person of crimes are factual, not opinion
Amaro v. Weber, decided by California Court of Appeal on December 19, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. The plaintiff, Amaro, sued the defendant, Weber, for defamation after Weber published statement...