A Liberal Think Tank and an Air Force Major Are Trump's Latest Targets for Speech Policing
Trump threatened the Center for American Progress with a defamation lawsuit, while Jason Watson faces a court martial for offending the president.
Defamation
Iowa Man Seen in Viral Body Camera Footage Wins $105,000 Wrongful Arrest Lawsuit
After nearly four years of legal battles, Tayvin Galanakis has finally won his case against the officers who arrested him for allegedly driving while intoxicated without probable cause.
Defamation Claim Against University-Owned Public Radio Station Dismissed on State Sovereign Immunity Grounds
"Eby alleged an anonymous group of KWMU's staffers published an article on Medium.com [in 2020] accusing him of upholding 'white supremacy at the station by remaining complacent with the status quo.'"
The $1.776 Billion in Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Fits a Pattern of Fanciful Figures
In one lawsuit after another, the president has claimed damages in amounts completely disconnected from reality.
Trump's Responses to Kimmel and Comey Highlight His Contempt for Freedom of Speech
The president is not shy about using government power to punish people for saying things that offend him.
Free Speech Unmuted: "Defamacast" and More: How American Defamation Law Works
Jane and I lay out the structure of American defamation law, using the recent lawsuits brought by FBI Director Kash Patel as a launching point. Special bonus: Almost no discussion of New York Times v. Sullivan (an important case but one that listeners have doubtless heard much about elsewhere).
FBI Director Kash Patel Loses Defamation Lawsuit Over Morning Joe Statements
The wild things are in the nightclubs.
The Atlantic Vows To Fight $250 Million Defamation Lawsuit by Kash Patel
The FBI director filed a lawsuit over an article about his alleged drinking habits.
Megan Thee Stallion's Request for Anti-"Cyberstalking" Injunction Against Online Defamer Denied as Prior Restraint
"Plaintiff is allegedly the target of hurtful, angry, offensive, humiliating, racial, and gender-based hate made in online posts by Defendant's followers. As tempting as it might be to force some civility into the matter by staunching Defendant's speech against Plaintiff through an injunction, doing so would ignore the protections of the First Amendment."
A Federal Judge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal
Trump's failure to properly allege "actual malice" is consistent with his long history of filing shaky legal claims against people who say things he does not like.
Accusation of "Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence" for Allegedly Nonconsensually Posting Bondage Pictures May Be Defamatory
"Doe's assertion that distribution of intimate photos without consent has been considered sexual abuse and sexual violence, and therefore, his website is truthful ... presents factual issues, the resolution of which is not appropriate at the motion to dismiss stage."
Ex-Law-Student's Defamation Claim Against Howard University Can Proceed in Part
His breach of contract and race discrimination claims, however, are dismissed.
Jury Clears Afroman of Defamation for Mocking Cops Who Raided His House
Ohio sheriff's deputies raided Afroman's house in 2022 based on a bogus tip, then sued the rapper after he released music videos mocking the deputies.
Environmentalists and MAHA Activists Say Bill To Expand Florida's 'Food Libel' Law Will Silence Critics
The bill has a wide variety of groups worried that they could be targeted for criticism of large agribusinesses.
Local Official Sues for Libel over Allegations That He Has "Severe Mental Health Issues"; Court Says …
"truth is an absolute defense."
Trump's $15 Billion Lawsuit Against The New York Times Is His Craziest One Yet
The complaint suggests the Times showed "actual malice" because its reporters hated him. That's not how that works.
Trump's Complaint Against the New York Times: A Long Press Release that Mangles "Actual Malice"
It’s mainly praise for Trump: “President Trump secured the greatest personal and political achievement in American history.”
Even If Trump's Birthday Letter to Jeffrey Epstein Is 'Fake,' How Is It Defamatory?
The president claims The Wall Street Journal inflicted "billions of dollars" in reputational damage by confirming a well-established relationship.
Trump, Who Wants To 'Straighten Out the Press,' Sues The Wall Street Journal Over 'Fake' Epstein Letter
Whatever the merits of this particular defamation claim, the president has a long history of abusing the legal system to punish constitutionally protected speech.
Nothing New Under the Sun, Here as to Rules That Focus on a Defendant's Being Motivated by Ill Will
"[V]ery agreeable to the theorist, but utterly unfit for the practical purposes of society ...."
Plaintiff's Idaho Murder Libel Claim Continues to Beat Defendant's "Psychic Intuition"
More in Prof. Rebecca Scofield's defamation lawsuit against alleged psychic Ashley Guillard, based on Guillard's accusation that Scofield was involved in the Nov. 2022 murder of four University of Idaho students.
Trump's Actions Contradict His Avowed Commitment to First Amendment Rights
The president has launched a multifaceted crusade against speech that offends him.
Treating Journalism As Consumer Fraud, Trump Claims Coverage of a Presidential Poll Was Not 'News Reporting'
The president's lawyers also conflate fraud with defamation, misconstrue the commercial speech doctrine, and assert that false speech is not constitutionally protected.
Cops Denied Qualified Immunity After Arresting Sober Teenager for DUI
"I blew a zero, so now you're trying to think I smoked weed?” Tayvin Galanakis asked the officer who arrested him in 2022. “That's what's going on. You can't do that, man.”
Federal Judge Tosses Defamation Lawsuit Against NewsGuard
The self-styled watchdog site ranks news outlets' reliability, which has rankled those on both the right and left.
Libel Claims by The Satanic Temple Against Newsweek Over Sexual Abuse Allegations …
thrown out for lack of evidence of "actual malice" (i.e., knowing or reckless falsehood on Newsweek's part).
Mississippi Judge Orders Newspaper To Take Down Editorial Criticizing City Board for Secrecy
Free speech experts say the takedown order is a clear example of unconstitutional prior restraint under the First Amendment.
Smartmatic's Defamation Suit Against Fox Corp. (and Not Just Fox News) Can Go Forward
"[P]laintiffs ... allege[] that ... [Fox Corp.] 'actively participated in, directed, and controlled the publication' of the above defamatory statements composed and broadcast by the other defendants."
Pay Up, Trump
Plus: Biden's last-minute Ukraine cash surge, Tennessee age-verification law blocked, Kentucky man killed by cop who showed up at wrong house, and more…
Given George Stephanopoulos' Carelessness, ABC's Defamation Settlement With Trump Seems Prudent
The host of This Week repeatedly and inaccurately asserted that Trump had been "found liable for rape."
Kash Patel's Threats Against Journalists Make Him an Alarming Choice To Run the FBI
"We're gonna come after the people in the media," the Trump stalwart warns. "Whether it's criminally or civilly, we'll figure that out."
Trump's Legal Complaints Against 2 News Outlets Reflect His Disregard for Freedom of the Press
The Republican presidential candidate argues that CBS and The Washington Post broke the law by covering the election in ways he did not like.
Mark Robinson Files Frivolous Lawsuit Against CNN and a Local Musician
Due to North Carolina's lack of an anti-SLAPP law, the defendants will have to defend themselves in court.
Biden Notes Trump's History of 'Sexual Assault' but Highlights '34 Felonies' That Victimized No One
Facing an opponent who has been credibly described as a sexual predator, Biden instead emphasizes Trump's cover-up of a consensual encounter.
Trump Files Defamation Lawsuit Against ABC for Saying He Was Found Liable for Rape Instead of Sexual Assault
The defamation lawsuit is the latest in Trump's campaign of lawfare against media outlets, but all of those suits have failed so far.
Climate Scientist Michael Mann Wins Defamation Suit Against Mark Steyn and Rand Simberg
The jury found no real damages, but gave a sizeable punitive award that could be challenged on appeal.
