Meier Watkins Phillips Pusch, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm specializing in defamation cases, has appointed First Amendment attorney Rodney Smolla as senior counsel. Smolla, who played a pivotal role in Dominion Voting Systems’ $787.5 million defamation settlement with Fox News, brings extensive experience in media law and constitutional litigation to the firm. The formation of…
In a significant ruling by a Miami federal court, retired Eastern District of New York Judge Frederic Block’s defamation lawsuit was dismissed based on the classification of federal judges as public officials. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, holds federal judges to the same defamation standards as other public officials, increasing the…
A partner from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, notable for representing high-profile clients such as actress Blake Lively and artist Drake in recent defamation suits, has transitioned to Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP. This boutique litigation firm was launched in May and includes several former members of Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP. The move…
In a notable legal development, Susman Godfrey, a prominent law firm with roots in Houston, successfully contested an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled that this particular directive, along with similar orders against other major law firms, stands in violation of constitutional principles. The executive order,…
California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Fox News Network, demanding either a retraction and on-air apology or $787 million in damages. The legal action stems from allegations that Fox News falsely reported on a conversation between Newsom and President Donald Trump concerning the deployment of military forces in Los Angeles. Newsom’s…
In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, questions arose about the impartiality of Ed Artau, a Florida state judge nominated for a federal position, following his recent involvement in a case that favored former President Donald Trump. Artau was part of a three-judge panel that, on February 12, unanimously allowed Trump’s defamation suit against the Pulitzer…
In a noteworthy decision, an Illinois state appellate court has reinstated Jasmine Sebaggala’s defamation lawsuit against Helen Levinson, overturning a previous dismissal and rescinding over $38,000 in attorney fees awarded to Levinson. The case stems from accusations that Sebaggala, a public school teacher in Niles Township, conveyed “anti-white sentiment” through her social media activities, prompting…
A recent decision by Florida Judge Ed Artau has raised questions about the intersection of judicial impartiality and political aspirations. Judge Artau sided with former President Donald Trump in a defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board. The timing of Judge Artau’s ruling has sparked interest, especially since it coincided with his pursuit of a…
In a notable development this week, President Donald Trump nominated Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host, to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. This marks Trump’s second attempt to appoint a leader for this significant position within the nation’s largest U.S. attorney’s office. Pirro is currently functioning in this…
A recent legal development involves defamation claims filed by an employment attorney against the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and certain partners. A judge in Washington state has partially advanced the claims, indicating that some allegations are shielded under the Washington’s Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, while others are not. This nuanced ruling reflects…
In a significant legal development, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York dismissed a $400 million lawsuit against actress Blake Lively, filed by actor-director Justin Baldoni. The lawsuit centered around allegations that Lively made false statements to The New York Times concerning harassment claims against Baldoni. The judge found that…
In a notable move within the legal skirmishes involving major media corporations, Washington litigator Abbe Lowell has allied with the Freedom of the Press Foundation in an attempt to influence Paramount Global Holdings. His engagement signifies a stratagem to counteract President Donald Trump’s substantial $20 billion lawsuit against CBS and its show, “60 Minutes”. Trump’s…
Recent legal actions in Zambia have sparked significant concerns about press freedom within the country. On Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed apprehensions over an interim injunction by the Zambian High Court. This court order blocked News Diggers, a Zambian media outlet, from airing a documentary investigating Chinese investments in the country, following…
Journalist groups, led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), are urging Poland’s newly elected president, Karol Nawrocki, to prioritize media reform and uphold press freedom. Nawrocki, aligned with the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party and having taken office on June 1, is under pressure to bridge the political divide and work towards enacting the European…
Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka has initiated legal proceedings against interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, addressing events that transpired on May 9. On that day, Mayor Baraka was arrested outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility while he was accompanied by three members of Congress. This arrest has led to allegations of false…
Plaintiff T. Craig Travis is challenging a judge’s ruling due to alleged undisclosed conflicts of interest in a defamation case. Travis has requested that the court consider invalidating the order issued by Special Superior Court Judge Hoyt G. Tessener, who dismissed the lawsuit. The core of Travis’s argument is that Judge Tessener did not reveal…
The ongoing prosecution of journalist Landry Ulrich Nguéma Ngokpélé in the Central African Republic has drawn significant attention and concern from international media advocacy groups. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recently called on the nation’s authorities to halt the legal proceedings and release Ngokpélé, the editor of “Le Quotidien de Bangui.” The journalist was…
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called upon the current presidential candidates in South Korea to make a strong pledge to uphold and enhance press freedom in the nation. This appeal comes at a critical juncture as the country continues to deal with the ramifications of the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol…
In a recent legal development, a Georgia state court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by a radio show host against OpenAI LLC, the developer behind ChatGPT. The court determined that the output generated by ChatGPT does not qualify as defamatory since it does not convey actual facts. This decision highlights the ongoing legal complexities…
As part of a strategic move to bolster its litigation and investigations department, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has announced the appointment of Justin Kingsolver as a partner. Kingsolver joins the firm’s antitrust, competition, and trade practice group, operating out of both the Phoenix and Washington offices. This lateral hire was confirmed by the firm…
In light of alarming developments concerning press freedoms in Peru, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has issued a stark warning highlighting a “major offensive” against journalistic liberties involving all three branches of the government. The concerns emerge against a backdrop of heightened violence that includes the murders of several journalists within the first quarter of 2025,…
A recent deliberation by a New Jersey appeals court has cast a spotlight on a contentious loophole within the state’s anti-SLAPP legislation, generating fresh dialogue about the intersection of defamation claims and First Amendment protections. At the heart of the matter is whether plaintiffs can strategically withdraw defamation lawsuits to sidestep potential penalties, thereby impacting…
A New Jersey court recently adjusted a previous $18 million defamation verdict, reducing it to $500. This decision came in the case where Ghanaian Parliament member Kennedy Ohene Agyapong was initially ordered to compensate journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The litigation was based on Agyapong’s allegedly defamatory remarks, broadcast from New Jersey, which labeled Anas a…
An appeals court has reinstated a defamation lawsuit against a Florida-based assistant U.S. attorney, Alison W. Lehr, brought by a former intern and law school student. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the district court must reconsider the case, which was previously dismissed in 2021. The court noted that Lehr may not be…
The legal landscape is facing another twist as Beth McCaffery, a former Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney, has filed a defamation lawsuit against New York University over a recent report alleging prosecutorial misconduct. The report in question, published by NYU last year, centers on alleged misconduct within the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, which McCaffery contends is…