Grimmett v. Costa, decided today by Judge Catherine Eagles (M.D.N.C.), refused to issue a preliminary injunction against a N.C. statute that makes it a misdemeanor [f]or any person to publish or cause to be circulated derogatory reports with reference to any candidate in any primary or election, knowing such report to be false or in […]
From Dfinity Found. v. N.Y. Times Co., decided today by Judge Lewis Kaplan (S.D.N.Y.): This is a defamation case against The New York Times, two of its reporters, and others. The plaintiff, allegedly a Swiss foundation, moves to recuse the undersigned on the ground that his spouse, whom he married in 2004, was a reporter […]
From Landino v. Mass. Teachers Ass’n, decided today by Judge Denise Casper (D. Mass.), the undisputed facts: The MTA is a state affiliate of the National Education Association (“NEA”), a national labor union. Established in 2011, Project Veritas is a non-profit conservative media outlet that conducts “undercover reporting” concerning “subjects that impact democratic interests,” PV […]
It was just filed today, Fairfax v. N.Y. Public Radio & WNYC (E.D. Va. Aug. 6, 2022); I’m traveling and so don’t have time to analyze it closely, but I thought I’d link to the Complaint. Here’s the opening, which of course is just Fairfax’s allegation: This defamation suit arises primarily from intentionally fabricated, false, […]
From Magistrate Judge Lanny King’s Report and Recommendation recommending dismissal of plaintiff’s libel claim in Rhodes v. Buccieri, just adopted today by Judge Greg Stivers (W.D. Ky.): Plaintiff claims that the [A & E Court Cam] episode’s statement that he was facing “CHARGES” for an “April 2016 Murder” was false and defamatory. The statement was, […]
From Sandmann v. N.Y. Times, CBS News, ABC News, Gannett & Rolling Stone, decided yesterday by Judge William Bertelsman (E.D. Ky.): These five libel cases arise out of events that occurred in Washington, D.C. on January 18, 2019 and the ensuing extensive media coverage of plaintiff Nicholas Sandmann’s encounter with Nathan Phillips. [Factual details quoted […]
From Hockenberry v. U.S., decided today by the Tenth Circuit, in an opinion by Judge Joel Carson, joined by Judges Nancy Moritz and Paul Kelly: Hockenberry is a Captain in the United States Army and Kalas is an Army Reserve Captain. In 2016, Hockenberry and Kalas were employed as attorneys at Fort Sill near Lawton, […]
From Tika v. Jack, decided today by Judge Norman Moon (W.D. Va.): The plaintiff and defendant dated for two months. When their relationship deteriorated, the defendant allegedly began sending the plaintiff abusive text messages. Then, when in her telling, the plaintiff blocked his phone, the defendant sent the plaintiff’s employer—a D.C. government agency—emails saying that […]
From today’s decision of the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Johnson v. Freborg, by Judge Lucinda Jesson, joined by Presiding Judge Peter Reyes, with a partial dissent by Judge Sarah Wheelock: Respondent Kaija Freborg identified appellant Byron Johnson in [a Facebook] post as one of three dance instructors who had sexually assaulted her. Johnson sued […]
From Boye v. McCarthy, decided yesterday by the Pennsylvania Superior Court, in an opinion by Judge Deborah Kunselman, joined by President Judge Jack Panella and Judge James Gardner Colins: According to the complaint, Ms. McCarthy sent a false e-mail to an administrator at Mr. Boye’s college. She alleged that Mr. Boye raped a third party […]