No. 20-1063October Term 2020Decided Jul 2, 2021Updated Jul 2, 2021
Berisha v. Lawson
This case arises from a defamation suit by Shkelzen Berisha against author Guy Lawson over statements linking Berisha to an arms-dealing scandal.
Case status
Decided · July 2, 2021
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jul 2, 2021
- What it's about
This case arises from a defamation suit by Shkelzen Berisha against author Guy Lawson over statements linking Berisha to an arms-dealing scandal. The petition asks the Court to reconsider the First Amendment rule that public figures must prove “actual malice” in libel cases and to decide whether Berisha was properly treated as a public figure.
Question presented
Whether this Court should overrule the “actual malice” requirement it imposed on public figure defamation plaintiffs?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit / Decision released Jul 2, 2021
- Area
First Amendment
Timing
Decided July 2, 2021
The Court released its decision on July 2, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
Opinion added: Opinion
Jul 2, 2021 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Feb 1, 2021 | Court records
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology