Explore 25 court opinions on Public Figure Status. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
25 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 claim fails due to lack of actual malice
Islam v. Razzak, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on April 16, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Islam, sued the defendant, Razzak, for defamation. Islam alleged that Razzak ma...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendants in defamation case
Osama Gendra v. Damion Haskett and Belinda McMiller, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 31, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Osama Gendra, sued defendants Damion Haske...
Statements Alleging Illegal Activity Deemed Substantially True, Defamation Claim Fails
Watkins v. Corbett, Corbett, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 25, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Watkins, sued the defendant, Corbett, for defamation aft...
Defamation claim fails for lack of evidence of falsity and malice
Quinn James-Cooper v. Claudia Ruesta, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 19, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Quinn James-Cooper, sued the defendant, Claudia...
Sheriff Not Liable for Excessive Force in Arrest
Bagby v. Davis, decided by California Court of Appeal on February 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, a former inmate, sued the defendant sheriff for alleged excessive force ...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation suit
Justin Marcus Kacz v. Diyana Mathews, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on February 12, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Justin Marcus Kacz, sued the defendant, Diyana Mathews...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Christine Gibbons v. Betty Gibbs, decided by Fourth Circuit on February 11, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the...
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...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation suit
Kara Cunningham v. Everett Trost, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on February 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Kara Cunningham, sued the defendant, Everett Trost, for def...
Court finds no defamation due to lack of actual malice
Arthur v. Weir, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Arthur, sued the defendant, Weir, for defamation after Weir posted allegedly f...
Court finds no defamation due to lack of actual malice
Arthur v. Weir, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Arthur, sued the defendant, Weir, for defamation after Weir posted allegedly f...
Statements of Opinion Protected from Defamation Claims
Grippando-Wright v. Smith, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Grippando-Wright, sued the defendant, Smith, for defamation after S...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Via v. Boyle, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Via, sued the defendant, Boyle, for defamation after Boyle posted allegedly fals...
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 summary judgment in defamation case
Curtis Lilly v. Kimberly Thompson, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 30, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Curtis Lilly, sued the defendant, Kimberly Thompson, for d...
Defamation claim fails for lack of evidence of falsity and malice
Savage v. Donofrio, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on January 21, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Savage, sued the defendant, Donofrio, for defamation. Savage alleged that ...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation suit
Niki K. Dickehut v. Kenny Ozee, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 15, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Niki K. Dickehut, sued the defendant, Kenny Ozee, for defamat...
Appellate court affirms summary judgment for defendant in defamation suit
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...
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...
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...
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...
Public figure plaintiff fails to prove actual malice in defamation case
Dinh v. Goble, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Dinh, sued the defendant, Goble, for defamation after Goble posted allegedly fa...
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...