Defamation Laws News
The latest legal news and analysis on defamation laws.
52 articles
Ninth Circuit: Section 230 Bars Facebook Account Contract Claim
The Ninth Circuit held October 30, 2026 that Section 230 bars a conversion claim over Meta canceling a business's Facebook pages, even recast as contract.
Delaware Court Dismisses Candace Owens Individually From Macron Suit
A Delaware judge dismissed Candace Owens individually on October 27, 2026 for lack of personal jurisdiction. The case continues against her two companies.
Florida Magistrate Narrows AI Chat Discovery in Defamation Suit
A Florida federal magistrate judge's October 21, 2026 order narrows discovery of a defamation defendant's AI chat logs and requires a work-product privilege log.
NY Appeals Court Tosses Google Review Defamation Suit, Awards Fees
On October 7, 2026 New York's Second Department dismissed a lawyer's Google review defamation suit seeking at least $500,000 as pure opinion and granted the reviewer anti-SLAPP fees.
First Circuit: Group Defamation Rule Bars Maine Lobster Suit
On October 9, 2026 the First Circuit reversed and ordered dismissal of Maine lobster plaintiffs' defamation suit over Seafood Watch ratings, applying the group defamation rule.
Defamation by Omission: Court Lets Dartmouth Roster Claim Proceed
A New Hampshire federal court refused to dismiss a defamation claim built on a coach's removal from Dartmouth's online rosters. What the order held.
Supreme Court Denies Review in Moore v. Senate Majority PAC, Leaving the Eleventh Circuit's Actual Malice Test for Defamation by Implication in Place
The Supreme Court denied certiorari in Moore v. Senate Majority PAC on October 5, 2026, leaving the Eleventh Circuit's April 24, 2026 ruling that Roy Moore failed to prove the intent component of actual malice in a defamation-by-implication case.
Ohio Anti-SLAPP Dismissal Reversed Over a Cancelled UPEPA Hearing
Ohio's Eighth District reversed a UPEPA anti-SLAPP dismissal on October 1, 2026 because the trial court cancelled the hearing R.C. 2747.04(A)(1) requires.
Oregon Federal Court Strikes Online Defamation Suit, Gives Plaintiff 30 Days to Amend
A federal judge granted an Oregon anti-SLAPP motion to strike in Lewis v. StopAntisemitism, finding protected opinion, and allowed 30 days to amend.
CA Court Backs Journalist Who Published Sealed Arrest Report
California appeals court, Sept. 29, 2026: the First Amendment and Section 230 barred a 15-count suit over a journalist's publication of a sealed arrest report.
Idaho Supreme Court: Business Unfitness Is Defamation Per Se
The Idaho Supreme Court held on September 25, 2026 that statements imputing unfitness for a lawful business are defamation per se, and ordered a new trial.
Ohio Anti-SLAPP Denial Affirmed in Facebook Defamation Case
Ohio's Fifth District affirmed the denial of an anti-SLAPP motion on September 21, 2026, letting a horse farm's defamation claim over a Facebook post proceed.
Idaho Upholds a $1.176M Defamation Verdict and Flags AI-Faked Citations
The Idaho Supreme Court affirmed a $1,176,000 defamation judgment on September 22, 2026 and found only six of twenty-two quotations in the appellant's brief were accurate.
Florida Court: No Jail Threat to Collect an Anti-SLAPP Fee Award
Florida's Fifth DCA reversed a contempt order on September 25, 2026, holding an anti-SLAPP fee judgment is a debt that cannot be enforced by threatening jail.
Passantino Defamation Suit Against Weissmann Dismissed on Negligence
A D.D.C. judge ended Stefan Passantino's defamation suit on September 21, 2026, holding he pleaded no facts showing negligence, without deciding truth or public-figure status.
Texas Jury Finds School Defamed HR Director; No Judgment Yet
A Fort Worth federal jury found Trinity Valley School defamed its former HR director. No final judgment has been entered; a post-trial motion is pending.
Federal Judge Lets Defamation Claim Over Google AI Overviews Go Forward
A Northern District of Illinois judge ruled Sept. 14, 2026 that two false Google AI Overviews can support a defamation claim, rejecting the disclaimer defense at the pleading stage.
Court Reverses Anti-SLAPP Denial in Schneider Defamation Suit
A California appeals court reversed a trial order, ruling Quiet on Set does not imply Dan Schneider committed child sexual abuse, a published opinion holds.
Kentucky Anti-SLAPP Ruling Ends Hog Farm Defamation Lawsuit
Kentucky's Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of a hog farm's defamation suit under the KUPEPA anti-SLAPP law on September 4, 2026, and a $46,998.60 fee award.
Court Dismisses Baraka Defamation Claims Under Westfall Act
A New Jersey federal judge dismissed Ras Baraka's defamation claims against Alina Habba without prejudice after upholding a Westfall Act scope certification.
Court Reverses Anti-SLAPP Denial in Coppola Libel Case
An unpublished California appeals court reversed the denial of Variety's anti-SLAPP motion in Francis Ford Coppola's libel suit. What it held, and its limits.
Combs Defamation Ruling: One NewsNation Claim Proceeds, Three Dismissed
A federal judge let one claim proceed against NewsNation's parent, dismissed three, and denied attorney Ariel Mitchell's motion in full on September 4, 2026.
Jury Finds NY Times Defamed Ex-Alabama Player, Awards $9.25M
A federal jury found The New York Times liable for defamation and false light against ex-Alabama player Kai Spears, awarding $9.25M. No final judgment yet.
Missouri Anti-SLAPP Law (UPEPA) Takes Effect, Replaces 2004 Statute
Missouri's anti-SLAPP law changed August 28, 2026: RSMo 537.528 is repealed and RSMo 537.529, the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, takes its place.