A dog trainer who claimed he was defamed by online accusations of animal abuse was entitled to tell a jury how many people “liked” the offending Facebook page, a federal judge has ruled. Nevertheless, U.S. District Judge James Cacheris said ...

Tagged with: Defamation Social Media

An advertising company can’t sue a competitor for notifying potential customers about critical Internet postings, says a Norfolk federal court. Businesses know how online chatter can shape their reputations. With whole websites devoted to consumer complaints, wireless word-of-mouth can amplify ...

Tagged with: Defamation Federal Courts Judge Robert G. Doumar

An employer did not defame a nurse supervisor when it noted in her employment records that she had been terminated for misconduct related to her reports that she had been cursed at by someone she supervised on a healthcare call-in ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Defamation Employment

An orthopedic surgeon who said he was forced out of a job at Inova Fairfax Hospital can sue the hospital and several doctors for defamation for complaints about his conduct that could be deemed factual statements, not just opinions about ...

Tagged with: Defamation Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Jane Marum Roush

A church that filed a defamation lawsuit based on commentary posted on a website cannot prevent the defendant from publishing any information he gains through discovery. A Fairfax Circuit judge denied the church’s request for a protective order and said ...

Tagged with: Defamation Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Charles James Maxfield

A Botetourt County man was jailed without bond after refusing to comply with a judge’s order to respond to a deposition question in a civil suit. Danny H. Goad was charged with contempt of court after a hearing Thursday in ...

Tagged with: Defamation

On Dec. 18, 2009, The Virginian-Pilot published a news article, authored by Louis Hansen, about Phillip Webb, a public school assistant principal, and his son, a student in the same school system. Plaintiff alleged the defendant newspaper falsely implied that ...

Tagged with: Chesapeake Circuit Court Defamation Judge Randall D. Smith Million-Dollar Verdicts

An ex-client’s comment that he was “disappointed” with the work quality of a law firm and that his company had to “re-do” the firm’s work are statements of opinion that will not support a defamation claim, a federal judge in ...

Tagged with: Defamation Federal Courts Judge Henry E. Hudson

Plaintiffs Jack and Annabelle Walsh, a married couple, brought a defamation action against WAVY Broadcasting LLC and its parent company, LIN Television Corp.; the defendants operate television channel WAVY-10 and a television program called “10 On Your Side.” Plaintiffs are ...

Tagged with: Defamation Federal Courts Million-Dollar Verdicts

“On your side” consumer reports have become a staple of local television news coverage. The consumer reporter investigates complaints about a business and reports findings, often including how the station helped an angry citizen. But a 2010 report on a ...

Tagged with: Defamation Federal Courts Judge Tommy E. Miller Million-Dollar Verdicts