Explore 25 court opinions on Public Figure Doctrine. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
25 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Defamation claim fails for lack of evidence of falsity or malice
Puckett-Morrissette v. Durrani, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on April 22, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Puckett-Morrissette, sued the defendant, Durrani, for defamation...
Defamation plaintiff fails to prove actual malice for summary judgment
Ernie Blazeff v. Vladimir Ohayon, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Ernie Blazeff, sued the defendant, Vladimir Ohayon,...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment in defamation case
Leo Roger Dugas v. Ryan Edward Reuter, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on April 16, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Leo Roger Dugas, sued the defendant, Ryan Edward Reuter,...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment in defamation case
Chase Allen Curtis v. Gabrielle Analisa Laplante, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 25, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Chase Allen Curtis, sued the defendant, Gabri...
Settlement Agreement on Mortgage Payments Upheld
Renee Waters v. Beverley L. Farrar, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns the interpretation of a settlement agreement ...
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 in defamation case due to lack of malice evidence
Nichols v. Alghannam, decided by California Court of Appeal on March 6, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Nichols, sued the defendant, Alghannam, for defamation, alleging that ...
Defamation claim fails for lack of actual malice
Yates v. Rigby, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Yates, sued the defendant, Rigby, for defamation. Yates alleged that Rigby made f...
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...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case Due to Lack of Actual Malice
Hargreaves v. Barwell, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 3, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hargreaves, sued the defendant, Barwell, for defamation, alleging that Bar...
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
Haun v. Pagano, decided by California Court of Appeal on February 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Haun, sued the defendant, Pagano, for defamation after Pagano made alleg...
Appellate court affirms dismissal of defamation claim
Watson v. Calhoun, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on February 12, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Watson, sued the defendant, Calhoun, for defamation after Calho...
Auditor's statements protected by qualified privilege in property dispute
State ex rel. Johnson v. Hoying, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 10, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision, holding that...
NBCUniversal Wins Defamation Case Over Documentary Depiction
NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA, LLC v. WALKER, decided by Georgia Supreme Court on February 3, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether NBCUniversal was liable for defamation a...
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...
Appellate court affirms denial of prescriptive easement claim
Peter Vallecillo v. Veronica Gonzalez, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 28, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over a property line and an easement. Th...
Appellate Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Stephanie Hall v. Joseph Wyatt, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 23, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Stephanie Hall, sued the defendant, Joseph Wyatt, for defamat...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment in defamation case
Jordan MacKenzie Sessions v. John Wesley Jerman, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 15, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Jordan MacKenzie Sessions, sued the defendan...
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...
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...
Defamation plaintiff fails to prove falsity or actual malice
Abdelaziz v. Lugo, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Abdelaziz, sued the defendant, Lugo, for defamation after Lugo posted alle...
Appellate Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Fancourt v. Zargaryan, decided by California Court of Appeal on December 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Fancourt, sued the defendant, Zargaryan, for defamation, alleging...
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...
Defamation claim fails for lack of actual malice
Burnette v. Nockels, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on December 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Burnette, sued the defendant, Nockels, for defamation, alleging that ...