Reveal Wins Major Defamation Case Against Planet Aid
Reveal, a non-profit newsroom, has won a significant victory in a long-running defamation case. A federal court in California dismissed a lawsuit filed against Reveal by Planet Aid in 2016. The ruling comes at a time when defamation law is gaining unexpected attention, with some suggesting it can discourage the spread of false information on platforms like Fox News.
Reveal's investigation into Planet Aid tied the charity to an alleged cult and raised questions about its spending. The lawsuit, however, was seen as an attempt to silence the news outlet and potentially deter others from reporting on powerful or deep-pocketed organizations. Reveal's legal team, consisting of Davis Wright Tremaine, Covington & Burling, and Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, along with Public Justice and EarthRights International, fought the case for over four-and-a-half years at a considerable cost.
The victory, while welcome, is somewhat bittersweet. The extensive resources and time invested in defending against the lawsuit have taken a toll. This trend of costly cases, including defamation cases like Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker and ABC News' settlement with a beef production company, has been increasing over the past decade. Reveal's legal battle with Planet Aid was particularly costly, not just in financial terms, but also in lost reporting time and other employee resources.
The dismissal of Planet Aid's lawsuit against Reveal is a victory for press freedom and the right to report on matters of public interest. However, the significant resources required to defend against such lawsuits raise concerns about the chilling effect they may have on news organizations. As defamation law continues to evolve, the press must remain vigilant and prepared to defend its right to report freely on platforms like Fox News.
