Category: defamation

Media Liable for Comments Posted on Their Facebook Pages: Australian High Court

In a landmark decision, Australia’s apex judicial body, the High Court, has dismissed an appeal from major media outlets claiming they were not responsible for comments posted by readers or audience members on their social media pages. Experts believe the judgement will have wider ramifications across not just media outlets but businesses, government entities, and…


Judge Dismisses Woman’s Defamation Suit Against Roy Moore’s Campaign

An Alabama judge has thrown out a defamation claim against Roy Moore’s Senate campaign that was filed by a woman who claims she was sexually abused by Moore when she was a teenager. Montgomery Circuit Judge John E. Rochester ruled that Leigh Corfman can only proceed with her lawsuit against Moore, not his former Senate…


Nunes Sues for Defamation Over Rachel Maddow’s Comments on Package From Russian Agent

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) has filed a defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal Media, alleging MSNBC host Rachel Maddow falsely accused him of criminal conduct on her show. According to a complaint obtained by The Epoch Times that was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas, Nunes’ attorneys allege that Maddow…


Why Porter Can’t Claim Victory After Dropping ABC Defamation Case

Commentary Former Australian Attorney-General Christian Porter has discontinued his defamation action against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and journalist Louise Milligan, declaring that the settlement of the case was a “humiliating” outcome for the ABC. Speaking late on Monday outside the court after a settlement was agreed to, Porter said, “That is a humiliating backdown for…


Greens Senator Retracts Comments, Apologises After Minister Sues

Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters has issued a public apology for the defamatory comments she made about Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Waters admitted that on Feb. 21, she published a media release on her website and Twitter and made comments during a press conference that contained false and defamatory statements that Dutton, a Liberal…


Why Christian Porter May Lose His Defamation Case

Commentary Australia’s Attorney-General Christian Porter is seeking aggravated damages against the ABC—Australia’s state-owned broadcaster—over a story written by journalist Louise Milligan. It starts as follows: “Australian Federal Police have been notified of a letter sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison detailing an alleged historical rape by a cabinet minister in the federal government.” The story…


Judge Dimisses Nunes Defamation Suit Against CNN on Technicality

A federal judge in New York on Friday cited a technicality in dismissing a defamation lawsuit brought by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) against CNN. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain dismissed the lawsuit on a technicality, saying that Nunes failed to demand a retraction as is required by California’s defamation statutes. The attorney for Nunes…