Explore 23 court opinions on Protected Speech. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
23 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Officer Qualified Immunity Upheld in Excessive Force and Arrest Case
Ricky Welch v. Laura Plappert, decided by Sixth Circuit on March 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the defendan...
Statements Not Defamatory as a Matter of Law
Morgensen v. Pullin, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Morgensen, sued the defendant, Pullin, for defamation after Pullin made alle...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of First Amendment Claims Against St. Louis Mayor
Yitzchak Simon v. Tishaura Jones, decided by Eighth Circuit on February 13, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought b...
Appellate court affirms dismissal of defamation claim based on qualified privilege.
Shirvell v. Armstrong, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on February 10, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether the appellant, a former employee, cou...
First Amendment Retaliation Claim Fails Without Proof of Motivating Factor
Michael Victor v. Kimberly Reynolds, decided by Sixth Circuit on January 23, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injuncti...
City officials not immune from due process claims over rezoning
City of Taylor, Texas and Mayor Dwayne Ariola, and Councilmembers Gerald Anderson, Shelli Cobb, Kelly Cmerek, Robert Garcia, and City Manager Bryan Laborde, All Named in Their Official Capacity v. Kri...
Ninth Circuit Reverses Denial of Qualified Immunity in Excessive Force Case
Gonzalez v. City of Phoenix, decided by Ninth Circuit on January 8, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit reviewed the denial of qualified immunity to Phoenix police officers ac...
Defamation claim partially succeeds as some statements ruled factual assertions.
Berstein v. Sebring, decided by California Court of Appeal on December 15, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. The plaintiff, Bernstein, sued the defendant, Sebring, for defamation after Sebring made a...
Ninth Circuit Denies Standing in APA Challenge to Medical Device Review
International Partners for Ethical Care Inc v. Ferguson, decided by Ninth Circuit on December 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of...
Sheriff Denied Qualified Immunity for Retaliation Against Deputy
Niki Frenchko v. Paul Monroe, decided by Sixth Circuit on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of qualified immunity to a sher...
Statements of Opinion Not Defamatory, Court Rules
Stacy Lynne v. John Feyen., decided by Colorado Supreme Court on November 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Stacy Lynne, sued the defendant, John Feyen, for defamation. The...
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...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Stewart v. Rosenblum, decided by Illinois Supreme Court on September 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Stewart, sued the defendant, Rosenblum, for defamation, alleging that...
Upsolve's First Amendment claim against NY AG dismissed for lack of evidence
Upsolve, Inc. v. James, decided by Second Circuit on September 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Upsolve,...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Excessive Force Claim
Anthony Browne v. Kimberly Reynolds, decided by Eighth Circuit on September 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to ...
Ninth Circuit Upholds North Dakota's 'Ag Gag' Law Against First Amendment Challenge
Halverson v. Burgum, decided by Ninth Circuit on August 21, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a challenge to North Dakota's "Ag Ga...
Racial Discrimination Claim Against Chicago Police Fails on Appeal
Juanita Arrington v. City of Chicago, decided by Seventh Circuit on August 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to ...
Seventh Circuit: No First Amendment Retaliation for Contract Termination
Chosen Consulting, LLC v. Town Council of Highland, Indiana, decided by Seventh Circuit on August 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. Chosen Consulting, LLC sued the Town Council of Highland...
Statements of Opinion Not Defamatory
Prato v. Gioia, decided by California Court of Appeal on June 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Prato, sued the defendant, Gioia, for defamation, alleging that Gioia made f...
Defamation suit over social media posts results in mixed ruling
Lyons, J. v. Arpin, D., decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on June 23, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. The plaintiff, Lyons, sued the defendant, Arpin, for defamation after Arpin posted allegedl...
Domestic Violence No-Contact Order Violation Affirmed
In Re O'Hanlon, Kenneth v. Hutchinson, Edson, decided by Colorado Supreme Court on May 27, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute involved whether a "no-contact" order, issued und...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Based on Noerr-Pennington and CDA 230
RFE/RL, Inc. v. Kari Lake, decided by D.C. Circuit on May 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by Kari L...
Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Officer in Excessive Force Case
Estevis v. Cantu, decided by Fifth Circuit on April 16, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the defendant, a former ...