New York Judge Dismisses Bobulinski’s $30 Million Defamation Suit Against Fox’s Tarlov in Landmark Anti-SLAPP Ruling
In a decision with potentially far-reaching implications for media law and freedom of expression, U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken has dismissed Tony Bobulinski’s $30 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov and ordered Bobulinski to pay Tarlov’s legal expenses. The ruling, which represents the first time a federal court has awarded attorney’s fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) statute, could establish an important precedent for the protection of journalists and commentators against defamation claims designed to silence public discourse.