Before that case, defamation lawsuits were considered private matters governed exclusively by state law, and they were decidedly slanted in favor of plaintiffs, especially rich ones who could afford the steep costs involved. Understanding the overlapping nature of the current mix requires a detailed analysis, most easily begun with Trump, whose involvement pervades all facets. She has renewed those calls in the aftermath of Sunday's carnage in Orlando, Fla., while Trump has launched several Islamophobic tirades. Because of Sullivan and its progeny, less than 10 percent of defamation cases brought by public figures have resulted in plaintiff victories. The chilling effect on press freedoms posed by such undertakings, especially for thinly capitalized publications, couldn't be clearer.

Source: Huffington Post June 15, 2016 21:27 UTC