No. 20-1063October Term 2020Decided 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
- 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
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 2, 2026
- Method
- Methodology