Donald Trump Is on the Hook for $88.3 Million in Defamation Damages. What Happens Next?
For years, Donald Trump hurled insults at E. Jean Carroll, saying she fabricated a sexual assault allegation against him to sell a book. Will he keep that up?
Dispute Over ‘Trump Too Small’ Trademark for T-Shirts Reaches Supreme Court
The court will weigh the First Amendment right to free speech against federal trademark law, and experts are wary that speech could ultimately be chilled.
Supreme Court Clarifies Test on Proving ‘True Threats’ Under the First Amendment
The Supreme Court brought new clarity to the First Amendment standard that applies to “true threats” on June 27 in the case of a Colorado man who sent thousands of harassing messages to a musician, requiring prosecutors to prove that a defendant was reckless.
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear ‘Trump Too Small’ Trademark Case
The Supreme Court decided June 5 to hear a California attorney’s case June 5 in which he requested to trademark the phrase “Trump too small.” The insult was initially made by Florida Senator Marco Rubio during the 2016 presidential campaign in which he said former President Trump had “small hands … And you know what they say about guys with small hands.”
An ‘Assault on the First Amendment’: Recent Legislation in DeSantis’ Florida
Two Florida bills filed by State Rep. Alex Andrade, a Gov. Ron DeSantis ally, on the same day in late February represent “a full-fledged assault on the First Amendment,” says Bobby Block, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation.
Idaho Legislature Continues to Threaten Free Speech, Academic Freedom at State’s Public Universities
Controversy at the state legislative level in Idaho, regarding what may or may not be taught at the state’s public universities, presents an ongoing threat to free speech and academic freedom. It is also one of many recent instances nationwide where state legislatures have intruded upon institutional academic freedom as well as the individual rights of faculty members.
While requests to remove threatening comments in defamation cases are not unheard of, this order stood out because it required the defendants to delete not only their own posts but also the comments made by third parties.
Defamation Suit By Coal Baron Against John Oliver Dismissed
Coal magnate Robert Murray has a long history of suing the media – at least nine organizations at last count. He targeted HBO’s John Oliver and The New York Times claiming that both misrepresented safety at his coal mines and attacked him personally. He even asked for an emergency “gag order” against rebroadcast of Oliver’s segment arguing it was hurting business and threatening employees. A federal judge ruled that Murray’s case against Oliver should proceed in state court. But after the case was remanded,HBO and Partially Important Productions submitted motions to dismiss which were granted. Murray intends to appeal.