Immunity protects party who files bar complaint 
Published: April 15, 2013
Tags: absolute immunity, attorney discipline, defamation
A party who filed a bar complaint enjoyed absolute immunity from liability for defamation, Massachusetts’ highest court has ruled.
Benchmarks: Attorney can’t sue for defamation over bar complaint
By:
Pat Murphy
Published: April 11, 2013
Tags: attorney discipline, defamation
Massachusetts’ highest court made clear this week that those who file disciplinary complaints against attorneys enjoy the broadest form of immunity from liability for defamation.
Benchmarks: Hackers may be identified in N.J. defamation case
By:
Pat Murphy
Published: April 8, 2013
Tags: defamation, Discovery, Internet Service Provider
The First Amendment does not protect the identity of hackers to the extent it does other anonymous individuals who publish defamatory material online.
That’s the conclusion reached Friday by a New Jersey appellate court.
Fabricated quotations may be defamatory
Published: March 5, 2013
Tags: defamation
A plaintiff could pursue a defamation claim based on an allegation that the defendant falsely attributed a disreputable quote to him, the Virginia Supreme Court has ruled in reversing a dismissal.
Lawyer can be sued for ‘defamatory’ letter to state AG
Published: March 5, 2013
Tags: defamation
A lawyer could be sued for allegedly defamatory statements in a letter opposing a request for action by the state attorney general, the Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled in reversing a summary judgment.
Lawyer faces liability for defamatory words in witness interview
Published: February 20, 2013
Tags: absolute privilege, defamation
A lawyer did not enjoy absolute immunity from liability for allegedly defamatory statements made during interviews of witnesses for a client’s case, the Florida Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
Prep school student must arbitrate tort claims
Published: February 11, 2013
Tags: arbitration, defamation, negligent hiring and supervision, negligent infliction of emotional distress
A prep school student must arbitrate her personal injury claims against the school and one of its teachers, the California Court of Appeal has ruled in reversing judgment.
Former principal wins, then loses, $155.7 million
By:
Sylvia Hsieh
Published: January 21, 2013
Tags: conspiracy to defame, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, Top Ten Jury Verdicts, Top Ten Jury Verdicts of 2012, tortious interference
In November, the former principal of a successful charter school won a disputed $155.7 million verdict against the city manager for destroying her reputation.
Defamation case exposes social media controversy
By:
David Frank
Published: December 27, 2012
Tags: defamation, Facebook, First Amendment, Massachusetts, social media, Twitter, wrongful termination
A Massachusetts judge’s refusal to issue an injunction in a suit involving a car dealership allegedly defamed by the relatives of an ex-employee demonstrates the struggle for courts that are asked to strike a balance between the First Amendment and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Benchmarks: Barbara Walters dodges defamation suit
By:
Pat Murphy
Published: December 19, 2012
Tags: defamation, negligent infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference
The 1st Circuit has declined to revive a defamation suit brought by a Massachusetts woman who claims her life unraveled after allegedly being caught in bed with Barbara Walters’ daughter at an exclusive Connecticut boarding school back in 1983.
