Explore 20 court opinions on First Amendment Protections. 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...
Defamation plaintiff fails to prove actual malice on appeal
Allen v. Davis, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 25, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Allen, sued the defendant, Davis, for defamation, alleging that Davis made false...
Litigation privilege shields statements made in judicial proceedings from defamation claims.
Dan Lewis v. Lynn Barrett, 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 grant summary jud...
Settlement Agreement Enforced Despite Duress Claims
Yousuf Al-Khafaji v. Sarah Abed, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on February 26, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over a settlement agreement in a pe...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Due to Lack of Actual Malice
Sutherly v. Theaker, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 11, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Sutherly, sued the defendant, Theaker, for defamation after Theaker made...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Due to Lack of Actual Malice
Grinder v. Schaaf, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Grinder, sued the defendant, Schaaf, for defamation after Schaaf posted all...
Public figure plaintiff fails to prove actual malice in defamation case
Kiltau v. Pugh, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 31, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Kiltau, sued the defendant, Pugh, for defamation after Pugh posted allegedly ...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Over Actual Malice
Calandra v. Rowbotham, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Calandra, sued the defendant, Rowbotham, for defamation, alleging that...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Due to Lack of Actual Malice
Haery v. Spaeth, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Haery, sued the defendant, Spaeth, for defamation after Spaeth made allegedl...
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...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment in defamation case
Rose v. Jendral, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Rose, sued the defendant, Jendral, for defamation after Jendral posted alleg...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Over Lack of Actual Malice
B.D. v. D.G., decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 16, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, B.D., sued the defendant, D.G., for defamation, alleging that D.G. made false a...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation case
Hill v. Kiernan, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 11, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hill, sued the defendant, Kiernan, for defamation after Kiernan posted alleg...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for HSUS in Defamation Case
Jennifer Finn v. Humane Society of the United States, decided by Fourth Circuit on November 20, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. Jennifer Finn sued the Humane Society of the United States (H...
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...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Over Lack of Actual Malice
Kacyon v. Moore, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on November 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Kacyon, sued the defendant, Moore, for defamation after Moore posted allegedl...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Due to Lack of Actual Malice
Gilbert v. Welter, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on October 24, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Gilbert, sued the defendant, Welter, for defamation after Welter posted all...
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...
Defamation suit fails: Plaintiff didn't prove 'actual malice'
Arias v. Herzon, decided by First Circuit on August 15, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Arias, sued the defendant, Herzon, for defamation, alleging that Herzon made false and...
Court: 'Access Hollywood' tape statements not defamatory of E. Jean Carroll
Carroll v. Trump, decided by Second Circuit on August 8, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll against Donald Tru...