Explore 24 court opinions on Substantial Truth Defense. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
24 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Texas Court Affirms Dismissal of Negligence Claim Over Sovereign Immunity
Patrick Minor v. Lee Woo Sung, Jr., decided by Texas Court of Appeals on April 15, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Patrick Minor, sued the defendant, Lee Woo Sung, Jr., for i...
Statements not defamation per se; qualified privilege protects defendant
Mayfield v. Reardon, decided by Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on April 13, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Mayfield, sued the defendant, Reardon, for defamation after ...
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...
Appellate court affirms dismissal of defamation claim for insufficient evidence
Sheryl Elise Reed v. Angelica M. Weeks, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 19, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Sheryl Elise Reed, sued the defendant, Angelica M. Week...
Statements of opinion and substantially true statements are not defamatory.
Peters v. Lawson, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Peters, sued the defendant, Lawson, for defamation after Lawson posted alleged...
Statements of belief, not fact, are not defamatory, court rules
Alfred v. Moore, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 4, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Alfred, sued the defendant, Moore, for defamation after Moore publish...
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...
Appellate court grants media access to sealed criminal case records
Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC and Amanda Milkovits v. Michael Mota, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on February 12, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The plaintiff, Boston Glob...
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...
Statements Not Defamatory as a Matter of Law
Hal Hebert v. August William Ritter, Jr., a/k/a Bill Ritter, Jr., decided by Colorado Supreme Court on November 24, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hal Hebert, sued the defen...
Netflix's 'One Taste' Documentary Not Defamatory; Court Rules for Netflix
Onetaste Incorporated v. Netflix, Inc., decided by California Court of Appeal on November 20, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Onetaste Incorporated, sued Netflix, Inc. for de...
Defamation plaintiff fails to prove actual malice for summary judgment
Wilkerson v. Martin, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on November 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Wilkerson, sued the defendant, Martin, for defamation, alleging that ...
Appellate Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Wilson v. Pettiford, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on October 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Wilson, sued the defendant, Pettiford, for defamation, alleging that Pett...
Ninth Circuit Denies Injunction in "Fantasia" Mark Dispute
Fantasia v. Diodato, decided by Ninth Circuit on September 15, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by p...
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of 'Billions' Copyright Infringement Claim
Biani v. Showtime Networks, Inc., decided by Ninth Circuit on September 8, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit alleging that Showtime Netwo...
Defamation claim fails as statements found to be substantially true or opinion
Gregory Junek v. Patricia Bertrand, decided by Colorado Supreme Court on August 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Gregory Junek, sued the defendant, Patricia Bertrand, for ...
Spy Accusation Lawsuit Dismissed Over Fair Report Privilege
Volokh v. James, decided by Second Circuit on August 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit reviewed a district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by Ilya Volo...
Statements on business not defamation if opinion or substantially true
Hwang v. Cairns, decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on May 23, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hwang, sued the defendant, Cairns, for defamation after Cairns posted alle...
Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
8fg v. Stepup Funny, decided by Fifth Circuit on April 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the defendant, Stepup...
Appellate court upholds summary judgment for defendant in defamation case
Heritage Alliance v. American Policy Roundtable, decided by Federal Circuit on April 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Heritage Alliance sued the American Policy Roundtable for defamat...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Against Journalist
Simon Ateba v. Karoline Leavitt, decided by D.C. Circuit on April 8, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved a defamation lawsuit filed by Simon Ateba against Karoline Lea...
Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Apple Studios in Defamation Case
Sexton v. Apple Studios LLC, decided by California Court of Appeal on March 28, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Sexton, sued Apple Studios for defamation, alleging that the s...
Defamation claim fails for lack of actual malice
Hampton v. Quintero, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on March 13, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hampton, sued the defendant, Quintero, for defamation, alleging that Qui...
Former Employee's Wrongful Termination and Defamation Claims Fails
Lowry v. Port San Luis Harbor Dist., decided by California Court of Appeal on February 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, a former employee, sued the defendant harbor distri...