Explore 24 court opinions on Pleading Standards For Defamation. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
24 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Former employee's defamation suit against employer dismissed
Richardson v. Townsquare Media, Inc., decided by Second Circuit on April 23, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by a f...
Condo Association President's Statements: Defamation Dismissed, Interference Claim Revived
Mary Burliuk Holt v. Lighthouse Bay Condominium Association, Inc. and Gerald Givogue, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on April 16, 2026, resulted in a mixed outcome. The plaintiff, Mary Bu...
Former President Trump's defamation suit immunity claims rejected
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defamat...
Former President Trump's defamation suit immunity claims rejected
In re: Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss a defamat...
Court Dismisses Defamation Claim Against Attorney
Saad Khalid v. Todd Blanche, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Saad Khalid, sued Todd Blanche, an attorney, for defamation. Khalid alleged ...
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...
Non-compete agreement unenforceable due to overbreadth
Joseph J. Arena, M.D. v. Nat Lorente Ayurveda, Corp. D/B/A Dharma Nutrition Clinic and Sonaly Dealmeida, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outc...
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...
Employee's Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Claims Dismissed
Allison Witlow v. the Gaines Law Firm, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on February 12, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a former employee's claims of wrongful ...
Defamation claim dismissed for failure to plead actual malice with specificity
Yerkyn v. Yakovlevich, decided by Second Circuit on January 16, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation claim, holding tha...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim Over Qualified Privilege
Alia Al-Sabah v. World Business Lenders, LLC, decided by Fourth Circuit on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defam...
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...
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...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation and IIED Claims
Eliza Wille v. Howard Lutnik, decided by Fourth Circuit on October 31, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of Eliza Wille's claims aga...
Defamation claim dismissed for failure to plead falsity
Edward T. Saadi v. Pierre A. Maroun, decided by Eleventh Circuit on October 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation ...
Statements to prospective employer protected by qualified privilege
Conlon v. Scaltreto, decided by First Circuit on October 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The First Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by a f...
Trump's Statements Not Protected by Presidential Immunity in Defamation Case
State of Illinois v. Donald J. Trump, decided by Seventh Circuit on October 16, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Donald Trump's mo...
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim Against Kari Lake
Michael Abramowitz v. Kari Lake, decided by D.C. Circuit on October 6, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether Kari Lake's statements about the 2022 Arizona gub...
Ohio Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Wrongful Termination and Defamation Claims
State ex rel. Jennewine v. Puffenberger, decided by Ohio Supreme Court on August 28, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ohio Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a ...
Eighth Circuit: 'Disgrace' and 'Traitor' are Non-Actionable Opinion
Quindon Yelder v. Pete Hegseth, decided by Eighth Circuit on August 15, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit fi...
Defamation claim dismissed for failure to plead falsity with particularity
Isaacs v. Zimmerman, decided by Second Circuit on August 13, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation claim, holding that t...
Statements about a company's CEO not specific enough for defamation claim
Michael Mogan v. Portfolio Media Inc., decided by Seventh Circuit on August 7, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation cl...
Statements in article not defamatory as matter of opinion, court rules
Michael Mogan v. Portfolio Media Inc., decided by Seventh Circuit on July 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by M...
Court Orders Specific Performance of Settlement Agreement in Discrimination Case
John Doe v. Jonathan McKernan, decided by D.C. Circuit on July 1, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the enforceability of a settlement agreement reached in a...