A federal jury ruled against Sarah Palin in her defamation retrial against the New York Times, upholding the newspaper’s non-liability for a 2017 editorial inaccurately linking Palin to a mass shooting. This verdict, following a 2022 ruling overturned on appeal, reinforces the “actual malice” standard, requiring proof of knowing falsehood or reckless disregard for the truth. The case garnered significant attention due to the high-profile individuals involved and its implications for free speech in the current political climate. Despite the loss, Palin expressed contentment with her personal life and remained undecided on an appeal.
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A transgender military pilot, Jo Ellis, is suing conservative influencer Matt Wallace for defamation. Wallace falsely linked Ellis to a fatal helicopter crash via social media posts that went viral, resulting in immense online harassment and damage to her reputation. The lawsuit alleges Wallace’s actions were a “destructive and irresponsible defamation campaign,” forcing Ellis into the public eye and causing significant emotional distress and security concerns. Ellis intends to donate any awarded damages to the victims’ families.
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Cristina Balan, a former Tesla engineer, has won a significant legal victory in her long-running defamation case against the company and Elon Musk. A California appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that dismissed her claim, finding the lower court lacked jurisdiction. This decision effectively reopens Balan’s case, allowing her to pursue her claims in open court against Musk and Tesla. Balan intends to proceed with a new lawsuit, seeking to clear her name after being accused of embezzlement following her reporting of a safety concern.
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Smartmatic is seeking to hold Mike Lindell in civil contempt for failing to pay over $50,000 in sanctions stemming from a frivolous counterclaim in a defamation suit. Lindell, citing $70 million in debt and IRS garnishment, claims he is unable to pay, stating he currently lives on $1,000 a week due to ongoing legal battles. Judge Carl Nichols will review Lindell’s financial documents before ruling on the contempt motion. These legal issues are part of multiple defamation lawsuits against Lindell, alleging he falsely linked Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems to election fraud to boost MyPillow sales.
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A judge has ruled in favor of Drake’s request to access Kendrick Lamar’s recording contracts and Universal Music Group’s executive compensation data as part of his ongoing defamation lawsuit. Drake alleges that Lamar’s song, “Not Like Us,” which contained accusations of pedophilia, is defamatory and that Universal knowingly promoted the false claims. Universal had sought to halt the discovery process and dismiss the case, arguing the request was overly burdensome, but the judge rejected this motion. A hearing on Universal’s motion to dismiss the case is scheduled for June 30th.
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A US healthcare executive, Dr. Brian Morley, is suing John Oliver and Last Week Tonight for defamation. The suit alleges that Oliver took Morley’s testimony out of context, portraying him as unconcerned about a disabled patient’s hygiene. Oliver’s commentary, including a vulgar statement, allegedly caused significant reputational harm to Morley. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages exceeding $75,000, claiming Oliver intentionally manipulated Morley’s words to generate outrage and boost ratings. Morley maintains that the full context of his testimony, which was provided to the show’s producers, significantly alters the interpretation of his statements.
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Elon Musk is suing former Rep. Jamaal Bowman for defamation after Bowman called Musk a “thief” and a “Nazi” on CNN, criticizing Musk’s work with President Trump on the Department of Government Efficiency. This lawsuit follows a recent surge in vandalism targeting Tesla, fueled by negative public perception of Musk’s association with Trump. The attacks, including arson, have coincided with a significant drop in Tesla’s stock price, a decline celebrated by some Democrats. Bowman, who lost his reelection bid in 2024, made the comments during a CNN segment discussing Musk’s perceived incompetence.
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Newsmax settled a defamation lawsuit with Smartmatic for $40 million, a figure disclosed in a recent financial filing. The settlement resolves claims that Newsmax falsely accused Smartmatic of election fraud during the 2020 election cycle. Newsmax has paid $20 million to date, and offered Smartmatic stock as part of the agreement. This settlement follows similar actions by other news outlets, including One America News, and is part of a broader legal battle examining the intersection of free speech and defamation regarding election misinformation. The case against Fox News is still ongoing.
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A civil case accusing Jay-Z and Diddy of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at a 2000 VMAs after-party has been dismissed with prejudice. Both rappers’ legal teams celebrated the dismissal, characterizing the suit as baseless and driven by the plaintiff’s attorney’s pursuit of media attention rather than legal merit. The case, initially filed in October and amended in December to include Jay-Z, is permanently concluded. This dismissal follows other similar lawsuits filed against Diddy, who remains in custody on separate sex-trafficking charges.
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Elon Musk’s January 20th gesture, a hand-to-heart followed by a downward-facing, outward thrust, has sparked controversy due to its resemblance to a salute employed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The action’s visual similarity to these historical symbols has drawn significant criticism. The gesture’s meaning remains ambiguous, yet its resemblance to these infamous salutes is undeniable. The incident highlights the potential for unintentional, yet highly offensive, nonverbal communication.
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John Q. Hosedrinker