Explore 17 court opinions on First Amendment Defamation Law. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
17 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
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 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 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...
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...
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...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Against Hillary Clinton
Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton, decided by Eleventh Circuit on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns the alleged defamation of Donald Trump by Hillary Clinton. Th...
Statements about business can be defamatory if factual, not just opinion.
Clarke v. Gibson, decided by Maryland Court of Appeals on November 24, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. The plaintiff, Clarke, sued the defendant, Gibson, for defamation, alleging that Gibson made f...
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Against Trump on Immunity Grounds
Valame v. Trump, decided by Ninth Circuit on November 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by a forme...
Statements about child predator not actionable defamation as protected opinion
Backlund v. Stone, decided by California Court of Appeal on October 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Backlund, sued the defendant, Stone, for defamation after Stone publis...
Court finds statements not defamatory, rules for defendant
Damen Bonneau v. Tierney Pinkous, decided by Colorado Supreme Court on August 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Damen Bonneau, sued the defendant, Tierney Pinkous, for defa...
Fourth Circuit: Business criticism is protected opinion, not defamation
Salomon & Ludwin, LLC v. Jeremiah Winters, decided by Fourth Circuit on August 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit reviewed a district court's grant of summary judgment i...
University employee speech not protected if made in official capacity
Madeline Krasno v. Jennifer Mnookin, decided by Seventh Circuit on August 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Madeline Kras...
Statements about child predator/rapist accusations ruled protected opinion
Younge v. Berman, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on April 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Younge, sued the defendant, Berman, for defamation after Berman published s...
Statements Protected as Opinion, Not Defamation
Miles v. Gerstein, decided by California Court of Appeal on April 11, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Miles, sued the defendant, Gerstein, for alleged defamation. Miles claim...
Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Defamation Suits Against Trump and Bessent
Cathy Harris v. Bessent and Gwynne Wilcox v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on March 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case consolidates two appeals concerning the dismissal o...
Court finds no defamation, ruling for defendant Adam
Zaragoza v. Adam, decided by California Court of Appeal on February 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Zaragoza, sued the defendant, Adam, for defamation. Zaragoza alleged t...