Explore 20 court opinions on Fair Report Privilege. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
20 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Defamation claim dismissed based on fair report privilege and actual malice standard
Colatorti v. Republican Legislative Committee for the Twenty-Sixth Legislative District, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Cola...
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...
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 affirms summary judgment in defamation case
Marcus Blalock v. James Polk, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 19, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Marcus Blalock, sued the defendant, James Polk, for alleged defam...
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...
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...
Newspaper's publication of statutory public notice protected from defamation claim
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 of Opinion and Fair Report Privilege Defeat Defamation Claim
Martin v. Layman, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on November 21, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Martin, sued the defendant, Layman, for defamation after Layman publishe...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Grossman v. Morrison, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on November 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Grossman, sued the defendant, Morrison, for defamation after Morrison po...
Union statements protected by fair report privilege, defamation claim dismissed
Kevin Wickstrom v. Air Line Pilots Association, International, decided by Seventh Circuit on October 8, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's dis...
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Based on Fair Report Privilege
Asuncion v. Hegseth, decided by Ninth Circuit on September 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by a ...
Defamation plaintiff fails to prove falsity of statements, loses appeal
Benjamin Schoenthal v. Eileen O'Neill Burke, decided by Seventh Circuit on September 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary ju...
Court Denies Injunction Over Use of Confidential Client Information
Benjamin Schoenthal v. Eileen O'Neill Burke, decided by Seventh Circuit on September 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a prelimi...
Spy Accusation Lawsuit Dismissed Over Fair Report Privilege
Volokh v. James, decided by Second Circuit on August 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit reviewed a district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by Ilya Volo...
Court Affirms Default Judgment Against Non-Compliant Defendant
Alan Braid v. Oscar Stilley, decided by Seventh Circuit on July 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Oscar Stilley's motion to vac...
Statements on business not defamation if opinion or substantially true
Hwang v. Cairns, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on May 23, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hwang, sued the defendant, Cairns, for defamation after Cairns posted alle...
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...
Appeals court allows Zervos defamation suit against Trump to proceed
State of New York v. Trump, decided by First Circuit on March 26, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court's denial of a motion to dism...
D.C. Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim for Lack of Specificity
Hampton Dellinger v. Scott Bessent (ORDER AND OPINION), decided by D.C. Circuit on March 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a de...
D.C. Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim for Failure to Plead Falsity
Hampton Dellinger v. Scott Bessent, decided by D.C. Circuit on March 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation claim brough...