Explore 17 court opinions on Substantial Truth Doctrine. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
17 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Statements about felony conviction and disbarment were substantially true
Rose v. Stein, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on April 15, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Rose, sued the defendant, Stein, for defamation after Stein published statements ...
Statements to Prospective Employer Protected by Qualified Privilege
Schurger v. Huff, Johnson, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 16, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The appellate court reviewed a trial court's decision to grant summary ju...
Fourth Circuit: Defamation plaintiff failed to prove falsity or malice
Cheryl Metz v. Laurie McCarthy, decided by Fourth Circuit on February 25, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the d...
Statements alleging illegal conduct not defamatory if substantially true
Seilheimer v. Olsen, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on December 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Seilheimer, sued the defendant, Olsen, for defamation after Olsen pub...
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...
Statements about "child molester" and "rapist" found substantially true
Thompson v. Wilson, decided by First Circuit on November 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Thompson, sued the defendant, Wilson, for defamation after Wilson published state...
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Based on Fair Report Privilege
Asuncion v. Hegseth, decided by Ninth Circuit on September 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by a ...
Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Claim for Lack of Particularity
Frazier v. X Corp., decided by Second Circuit on September 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation claim, holding that ...
Newspaper Article Not Defamatory; Summary Judgment Affirmed
Nicole Pileggi v. Washington Newspaper Publishing Company, LLC, decided by D.C. Circuit on August 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether the defendant, a n...
Eleventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Defamation Case
Andrew E. Roth v. Austin Russell, decided by Eleventh Circuit on June 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the ...
Eleventh Circuit: Hollywood Reporter article not defamatory
John P. Middleton v. The Hollywood Reporter LLC, decided by Eleventh Circuit on May 23, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary j...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suits Against Arizona Mirror
Patsy Widakuswara v. Kari Lake; Michael Abramowitz v. Kari Lake, decided by D.C. Circuit on May 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case consolidated two appeals concerning Kari Lake's...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination Claims for Lack of Adverse Action
Detrina Solomon v. Flipps Media, Inc., decided by Second Circuit on May 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a former employee's discrimination cl...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Defamation Suit Against RFK Jr.
Timothy Baxter v. Robert Kennedy, Jr., decided by Fourth Circuit on April 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a defamation laws...
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...
Ninth Circuit Denies Preliminary Injunction in Business Dispute
Ryan Bussey v. Daniel Driscoll, decided by Ninth Circuit on March 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction soug...