Explore 24 court opinions on Matter Of Public Concern. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
24 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Defamation claim fails for lack of malice
Teneca Hines v. Pleasana Davison, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Teneca Hines, sued the defendant, Pleasana Davison,...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Due to Lack of Actual Malice
Silmi v. Assad, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 16, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Silmi, sued the defendant, Assad, for defamation, alleging that Assad made false...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation suit
Kristina Mizell v. Terri Anne Coggins, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 12, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. Kristina Mizell sued Terri Anne Coggins for defamation, alleging Coggin...
Teacher's retaliation claim fails due to lack of causal link
Scott Williams v. Addison Cmty. Schs., decided by Sixth Circuit on March 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the ...
Police officer's speech to press not protected by First Amendment
Potek v. City of Chicago, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on February 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, a former Chicago police officer, sued the City of Chicago and in...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment in defamation case
Josiah Reed Burns v. Lindsey Brooke Rowe, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 23, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Josiah Reed Burns, appealed the trial court's decis...
NYPD officer's retaliation claim fails; speech not of public concern
Knight v. City of New York, decided by Second Circuit on January 13, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a former NYPD officer,...
Statements implying false facts are not protected speech in defamation cases.
Seilheimer v. Olsen, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on December 30, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The plaintiff, Seilheimer, sued the defendant, Olsen, for defamation after Olsen pos...
Speech as Official Duty: Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Retaliation Case
Liao v. Bondi, decided by Fifth Circuit on December 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the defendant, Bondi, in...
Officer's internal complaints not protected speech, court rules
Baroni v. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, decided by Second Circuit on December 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought ...
Former employee fails to show ADA violation in termination, preliminary injunction denied
Shannon Wayne Agofsky v. Deanna Baysore, decided by Seventh Circuit on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary...
NYPD Officer's Speech Not Protected by First Amendment, Court Rules
Frey v. City of New York, decided by Second Circuit on September 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a former NYPD officer,...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of First Amendment Retaliation Claim
Steven Albert v. Brooke Lierman, decided by Fourth Circuit on September 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a First Amendment r...
Third Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Professor's First Amendment Claims Against NJIT
Jason Jorjani v. New Jersey Institute of Technology, decided by Third Circuit on September 8, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jason Jorjani's law...
Fifth Circuit: School employee's speech not protected if not matter of public concern
Jane Doe 1 v. City View Indep Sch Dist, decided by Fifth Circuit on September 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit broug...
Speech as Official Duty, Not Public Concern, Not Protected
Gillian Filyaw v. Steve Corsi, decided by Eighth Circuit on August 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the defe...
Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for County in Discrimination Case
Wood v. Bexar County, decided by Fifth Circuit on August 6, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to Bexar County in a la...
Teacher's speech not protected; termination upheld
John Kluge v. Brownsburg Community School Corporation, decided by Seventh Circuit on August 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a former teacher...
Officer's internal speech not protected by First Amendment
Ellis v. Salt Lake City Corporation, decided by Tenth Circuit on August 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to Salt ...
University investigation not First Amendment retaliation, court rules
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...
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...
Ninth Circuit: Officer's speech not protected, no irreparable harm
Burch v. City of Chubbuck, decided by Ninth Circuit on July 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by ...
Eleventh Circuit: No First Amendment Retaliation for Employee Speech Not of Public Concern
John Labriola v. Miami-Dade County, decided by Eleventh Circuit on July 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to Mi...
Tenth Circuit: Deputy's Speech Not Protected by First Amendment
Griffith v. El Paso County, Colorado, decided by Tenth Circuit on June 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to El Pa...