Hunter Biden Wins $1.7M Defamation Default Judgment Against Byrne
A federal judge entered a $1.7 million default judgment for Hunter Biden against Patrick Byrne, who claimed Biden solicited an $800 million bribe from Iran.
6 min read
Defamation Laws
185 articles · page 2 of 4
Iceland Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In Iceland defamation is both criminal, under General Penal Code Articles 234 to 237, and civil, with damages available under the Tort Damages Act.
8 min read
Idaho Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Idaho defamation laws explained: a 2-year statute of limitations (Idaho Code 5-219), the new UPEPA anti-SLAPP law, per se categories, and how to sue.
7 min read
Illinois Appellate Court Rejects $1 Nominal Damages Award in Facebook Defamation Per Se Case
An Illinois appeals court vacated a $1 defamation damages award to a doctor, holding nominal damages cannot substitute for proven harm in a per se case.
8 min read
Illinois Court: Jury Must Decide Actual Malice in Campaign Mailer Defamation Case
Illinois appeals court rules a jury, not a judge, must decide if a campaign acted with actual malice over $36,000 tax fraud mailers against Burr Ridge's mayor.
8 min read
Illinois Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Illinois defamation laws explained: a strict 1-year statute of limitations (735 ILCS 5/13-201), the Citizen Participation Act anti-SLAPP, and per se rules.
7 min read
India Defamation Laws: Civil & Criminal
Defamation in India is both a civil tort and a crime under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (formerly IPC 499/500), up to 2 years.
8 min read
Indiana Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Indiana defamation laws explained: a 2-year statute of limitations (Ind. Code 34-11-2-4), the 34-7-7 anti-SLAPP law, per se categories, and how to sue.
7 min read
Indonesia Defamation Laws: Civil & Criminal
Defamation in Indonesia is both civil and criminal. The 2023 Criminal Code (effective Jan 2026) and the ITE Law govern offline and online defamation.
7 min read
Iowa Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Iowa defamation laws explained: a 2-year statute of limitations (Iowa Code 614.1(2)), the new 2025 UPEPA anti-SLAPP law, retraction rules, and how to sue.
7 min read
Iran Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In Iran defamation is mainly criminal. The Islamic Penal Code punishes defamation, qazf, and insult; the Press and Computer Crimes laws add offences.
8 min read
Ireland Defamation Laws: 2026 Reforms, Defences & Time Limits
Defamation in Ireland after the 2026 reforms: High Court juries abolished from 1 March 2026, a serious harm test for companies, new defences, and a 1-year time limit.
8 min read
Is Defamation a Tort? How US Law Classifies It
Is defamation a tort? Yes, in nearly every US state. Learn how tort law classifies defamation, the dignitary tort category, and why it differs from a crime.
7 min read
Is It Defamation If It's True? Defenses Explained
Is it defamation if it's true? No. Truth is a complete defense to defamation of character, along with opinion, privilege, consent, anti-SLAPP and more.
7 min read
Israel Defamation Laws: Civil & Criminal
Defamation in Israel is both a civil wrong and a crime under the Prohibition of Defamation Law, 5725-1965, with damages available without proof of harm.
8 min read
Italy Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Italy treats defamation as both a crime (diffamazione, Article 595 Penal Code) and a civil wrong (Article 2043 Civil Code), with reform under debate.
7 min read
Japan Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Defamation in Japan is both a crime (Penal Code Art 230) and a civil tort (Civil Code Art 709). 2022 raised insult penalties. Defences and remedies explained.
7 min read
Jordan Defamation Laws: Criminal, Cyber & Civil
Defamation in Jordan is mainly criminal under the Penal Code (No. 16 of 1960) and the harsh 2023 Cybercrime Law, with limited civil compensation available.
7 min read
Judge Awards Blake Lively $407,451 in Fees and Costs Under California Civil Code Section 47.1
A federal judge ordered Wayfarer Studios to pay Blake Lively $407,451 in fees under Cal. Civ. Code 47.1, far below the $8M sought. Treble damages were denied.
13 min read
Judge Dismisses Kash Patel's Suit Against Blogger Over Jurisdiction
A federal judge vacated Kash Patel's $250,000 win over blogger Jim Stewartson, ruling Nevada courts lacked personal jurisdiction over his online posts.
8 min read
Judge Dismisses Trump Media's $3.8 Billion Defamation Suit Against The Washington Post
Judge grants Washington Post summary judgment, tossing Trump Media's $3.8B defamation suit for lack of actual-malice evidence under NYT v. Sullivan.
8 min read
Jury Finds NY Times Defamed Ex-Alabama Player, Awards $9.25M
A federal jury found The New York Times liable for defamation and false light against ex-Alabama player Kai Spears, awarding $9.25M. No final judgment yet.
11 min read
Kansas Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Kansas defamation laws explained: a one-year deadline to sue (K.S.A. 60-514), the Public Speech Protection Act anti-SLAPP rule, per se categories, and damages.
7 min read
Kentucky Anti-SLAPP Ruling Ends Hog Farm Defamation Lawsuit
Kentucky's Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of a hog farm's defamation suit under the KUPEPA anti-SLAPP law on September 4, 2026, and a $46,998.60 fee award.
11 min read
Kentucky Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Kentucky defamation laws explained: a one-year deadline to sue (KRS 413.140), the UPEPA anti-SLAPP statute, defamation per se categories, and damages.
7 min read
Kenya Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Defamation in Kenya is now civil only: the Defamation Act Cap 36 governs claims; criminal defamation (Penal Code s.194) was ruled unconstitutional in 2017.
8 min read
Kevin O'Leary, Fox News Sued for Defamation Over Alleged CCP Smear Campaign Against Utah Advocacy Groups
Two Utah groups sued Kevin O'Leary and Fox News for defamation on July 15, 2026, over alleged false Chinese Communist Party claims. Nothing is decided.
8 min read
Kuwait Defamation Laws: Civil & Criminal
Defamation in Kuwait is both civil and criminal: Penal Code articles 209-210 and Cybercrime Law No. 63 of 2015 for online insult and slander.
7 min read
Latvia Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In Latvia defamation is both criminal and civil. Criminal Law section 157 punishes it, and Civil Law section 2352.a allows retraction and damages.
8 min read
Libel vs Slander vs Defamation: What's the Difference?
Defamation of character is the umbrella term; libel is written and slander is spoken. Learn the difference, per se categories, and why it matters.
8 min read
Louisiana Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Louisiana defamation laws explained: a two-year prescription to sue (La. C.C. art. 3493.1), the Article 971 anti-SLAPP statute, per se categories, and damages.
7 min read
Luxembourg Defamation Law: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In Luxembourg defamation is both criminal and civil. The Criminal Code punishes calomnie and diffamation; the 2004 media law gives a public defence.
8 min read
Madison Square Garden Sues Wired for Defamation Over Alleged Celebrity Risk List
MSG sued Wired for defamation on July 16, 2026 in New York court over a celebrity risk-list article. Nothing decided yet; here's what the lawsuit alleges.
8 min read
Maine Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)
Maine defamation laws explained: a two-year deadline to sue (14 M.R.S. 753), the new UPEPA anti-SLAPP statute, defamation per se categories, and damages.
7 min read
Malaysia Defamation Laws: Civil & Criminal
Defamation in Malaysia is both civil (Defamation Act 1957) and criminal (Penal Code ss.499-502, up to 2 years), with online cases under CMA section 233.
7 min read
Maryland Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Maryland defamation laws explained: a one-year statute of limitations (CJ 5-105), the per se categories, anti-SLAPP, and how to sue for libel or slander.
7 min read
Massachusetts Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Massachusetts defamation laws explained: a three-year statute of limitations (c. 260, 4), no punitive damages, the anti-SLAPP statute, and how to sue.
7 min read
Mexico Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Mexico decriminalized defamation federally in 2007, making it mainly a civil moral-damages claim, though a minority of states still treat it as a crime.
7 min read
Michigan Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Michigan defamation laws explained: a one-year statute of limitations (MCL 600.5805), the new 2026 anti-SLAPP law, per se rules, and how to sue.
7 min read
Minnesota Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Minnesota defamation laws explained: a two-year statute of limitations (541.07), the new UPEPA anti-SLAPP law, per se categories, and how to sue.
7 min read
Mississippi Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Mississippi defamation laws: the one-year statute of limitations (Miss. Code 15-1-35), libel vs slander, defamation per se, and why there is no anti-SLAPP law.
7 min read
Missouri Anti-SLAPP Law (UPEPA) Takes Effect, Replaces 2004 Statute
Missouri's anti-SLAPP law changed August 28, 2026: RSMo 537.528 is repealed and RSMo 537.529, the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, takes its place.
10 min read
Missouri Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Missouri defamation laws: the two-year statute of limitations (RSMo 516.140), why the state requires actual damages, and its narrow anti-SLAPP law.
12 min read
Montana Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Montana defamation laws: the two-year statute of limitations (MCA 27-2-204), statutory libel and slander definitions, and the 2025 UPEPA anti-SLAPP law.
8 min read
Morocco Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In Morocco defamation is civil and criminal. The 2016 Press Code (Law 88-13) made press defamation fine-only; the Penal Code keeps prison offences.
7 min read
Mozambique Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Defamation in Mozambique is civil and criminal: the 2019 Penal Code (arts 233 to 242) punishes difamacao and injuria; the Civil Code allows damages.
8 min read
Nebraska Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Nebraska defamation laws: the one-year statute of limitations (Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-208), the single-publication rule, defamation per se, and a narrow anti-SLAPP.
8 min read
Nepal Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Defamation in Nepal is both civil and criminal: the 2017 Penal Code (ss.305 to 308) punishes slander and libel, and the Civil Code allows a damages claim.
8 min read
Netherlands Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In the Netherlands defamation is both criminal and civil. The Criminal Code punishes smaad, laster, and belediging; tort law allows damages.
9 min read
Nevada Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
Nevada defamation laws: the two-year statute of limitations (NRS 11.190(4)(c)), a strong anti-SLAPP law (NRS 41.635-41.670), per se, and retraction rules.
7 min read
New Hampshire Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
New Hampshire defamation laws: the three-year statute of limitations (RSA 508:4), no anti-SLAPP statute, no punitive damages, and defamation per se.
7 min read
New Jersey Court: Anti-SLAPP Law Shields a Law Firm's Blog Post
A published New Jersey ruling holds that a law firm's website post about a case it filed is protected under the state's UPEPA anti-SLAPP law, not commercial speech.
6 min read
New Jersey Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
New Jersey defamation laws: the one-year statute of limitations (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-3), the UPEPA anti-SLAPP law, per se, and the single-publication rule.
7 min read
New Mexico Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
New Mexico defamation laws: the three-year statute of limitations (NMSA 37-1-8), a narrow anti-SLAPP, single-publication rule, and no defamation per se.
7 min read
New York Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
New York defamation laws: a 1-year deadline under CPLR 215(3), libel vs slander, defamation per se, and a strong 2020 anti-SLAPP law (CRL 76-a).
7 min read
New Zealand Defamation Laws: Civil & Defences
Defamation in New Zealand is a civil wrong only under the Defamation Act 1992. Criminal defamation was abolished. Defences, remedies and the 2-year limit.
7 min read
Nigeria Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Defamation in Nigeria is both a civil tort and a crime. Criminal Code s.375, northern Penal Code s.392, Cybercrimes Act s.24 online. Defences and remedies.
8 min read
North Carolina Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
North Carolina defamation laws: a 1-year deadline under G.S. 1-54(3), libel vs slander, defamation per se, and no general anti-SLAPP statute.
7 min read
North Dakota Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
North Dakota defamation laws: a 2-year deadline under N.D.C.C. 28-01-18, libel vs slander, defamation per se, and no general anti-SLAPP statute.
8 min read
Northern Ireland Defamation Laws: What's Different
How defamation law works in Northern Ireland: it never adopted the Defamation Act 2013, what the 2022 Act changed, defences, and the 1-year limit.
8 min read