All articles tagged with #defamation suit
Actor Jonathan Majors, convicted of reckless assault and harassment, has been sentenced to a one-year domestic violence treatment program in LA instead of jail time. The judge also issued a permanent order of protection against contact with the victim and continued therapy for Majors. He faces a defamation suit and career setbacks following his arrest and conviction.
Kari Lake, a Senate candidate in Arizona and election denier, has chosen not to contest her liability in a defamation suit filed by Maricopa County election official Stephen Richer, who accused her of making false claims about him causing her electoral defeat. Lake's legal team filed a default judgment motion, seeking to dispute damages and requesting a jury for the hearing. Richer alleged that he and his family faced threats due to Lake's falsehoods, including claims about ballot misprinting and sabotage. Lake criticized the lawsuit, while Richer welcomed the focus on damages, drawing parallels to Rudy Giuliani's defamation case.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle distanced the couple from a snarky quote in a report on the “manipulated” photo of Kate Middleton and her children, discrediting the comments as not coming from them. Kate Middleton issued an apology for the photo editing, adding to speculation over her condition and hiatus from public life, while White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre laughed off a question about digitally altering photos of heads of state. Additionally, Meghan Markle had a defamation suit brought against her by half-sister Samantha dismissed by a Florida judge.
A Florida judge has dismissed Samantha Markle's defamation suit against half-sister Meghan Markle, ruling that she failed to provide evidence of defamatory remarks. The suit, which sought $75,000 in damages, was based on comments Meghan made during a 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview. The judge determined that the statements provided as evidence of defamation were either protected as opinion, substantially true, or did not meet the standard of malice necessary for a statement to be considered defamatory.
E. Jean Carroll, who recently won a defamation suit against Donald Trump, described him as a "walrus snorting" and "rhino flopping his hands" during an MSNBC interview. She expressed being initially terrified of facing Trump in court but ultimately found him to be "nothing" and emphasized that people should not be afraid of him. Carroll's legal victory resulted in a $83.3 million judgment against Trump, and she believes it sends a message that he can be "knocked out."
Smartmatic has alleged that OAN may have violated data privacy laws by allegedly sharing sensitive employee information in an email to the Trump campaign, as part of the ongoing defamation suit against OAN for falsely alleging election interference. OAN's president denies the accusations, and the network has already suffered consequences, being dropped by DirecTV in 2022. Smartmatic has also brought defamation suits against Fox News and other Trump allies for similar false claims.
Fox Corporation must face Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation suit, as ruled by a New York judge, while Smartmatic must also face Fox's counterclaims alleging the defamation claims are intended to suppress free speech. The judge denied Fox's motion to dismiss the defamation claims, stating that Corp. employees played an affirmative role in the publication of the defamation and acted with malice. However, the judge also denied Smartmatic's motion to dismiss Fox's counterclaims, which argue that the defamation claims were designed to quell free speech. This legal battle is part of at least eleven ongoing lawsuits over election conspiracy theories, and Fox Corp. is preparing to defend the case in trial, likely in 2025.
A New York judge ruled that Fox Corp must face Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation suit, while Smartmatic must also face Fox's counterclaims alleging the defamation claims are intended to suppress free speech. The ruling continues the lengthy court battle between the voting company and Fox News Corp over election conspiracy theories. The judge disagreed with Fox's motion to dismiss the claims, stating that Corp. employees played an affirmative role in the publication of the defamation, but also denied Smartmatic's motion to dismiss Fox's counterclaims. Fox had previously settled similar claims with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million.
Rudy Giuliani has filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay $148 million to two former Georgia election workers in a defamation lawsuit. Giuliani listed $153 million in debts, including tax liabilities and potential legal judgments. The bankruptcy filing will allow him to pursue an appeal while providing transparency for his finances under the supervision of the bankruptcy court. Last week, a federal jury awarded the election workers $148 million in their defamation case against Giuliani, who falsely claimed they were part of a conspiracy to rig the state's 2020 presidential election results.
Former New York City mayor and Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after being ordered to pay $148 million in damages to two Georgia election workers who sued him for defamation. Giuliani estimates his liabilities to be between $100 million and $500 million. The bankruptcy filing reveals that he owes the IRS and the state of New York hundreds of thousands of dollars in income tax, as well as unspecified debts to Dominion Voting Systems, Smartmatic USA, and Hunter Biden. Giuliani's net worth has significantly declined, and he has resorted to selling merchandise and offering video messages for cash.
A defamation suit filed by Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss against Rudy Giuliani, who targeted them with false claims of election fraud, is set to go to trial in Washington, D.C. A federal judge has already found Giuliani liable for defamatory comments, and the trial will determine the extent of damages and penalties he will face. Freeman and Moss are seeking between $15.5 million and $43 million. The women faced threats and harassment as a result of Giuliani's unfounded claims. The trial is expected to last two to three days, and Giuliani may be called as a witness.
Hunter Biden has been subpoenaed by Congress as part of a Republican investigation into his business dealings, while also filing a defamation suit against former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne. The House Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas for Hunter Biden and his uncle, James Biden, and is seeking interviews with several individuals connected to the Biden family. Republicans have yet to provide evidence linking President Biden to his son's foreign business dealings. Hunter Biden is also facing legal troubles related to a firearm purchase and tax-related misdemeanors. He has filed lawsuits against Byrne, Rudy Giuliani, Garrett Ziegler, and the IRS.
A federal judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump's countersuit against writer E. Jean Carroll, who won a $5 million judgment against him in a sexual abuse lawsuit. The judge ruled that Trump cannot claim defamation when Carroll continues to assert that she was not only sexually abused but raped. Trump's lawyers plan to appeal the decision. Carroll's defamation suit against Trump is scheduled for trial in January, and her lawyer expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that Carroll looks forward to obtaining additional damages. Carroll accused Trump of raping her in 1996, which he denies. In the previous trial, the jury concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll but rejected her claim of rape.
A federal judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump's countersuit against writer E. Jean Carroll, who won a $5 million judgment against him in a sex abuse lawsuit. The judge ruled that Trump cannot claim defamation when Carroll continues to assert that she was sexually abused and raped by him. Trump's lawyers plan to appeal the decision. Carroll's lawyer expressed satisfaction with the ruling and looks forward to a trial in January for her own defamation suit against Trump. Carroll accused Trump of raping her in 1996, which he denies. The jury in the previous trial concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll but did not find evidence of rape.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that it will no longer intervene on behalf of former President Donald Trump in a defamation lawsuit filed by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of raping her several decades ago. The DOJ had previously argued that Trump was immune from liability as he was acting within his presidential duties when denying the assault. However, recent developments, including a court clarification on what qualifies as public work and a jury verdict finding Trump guilty of defamation, prompted the DOJ to change its stance. Carroll's lawsuit will proceed, and her attorney expressed gratitude for the DOJ's reconsideration.