Defamation

In 2019, I joined a trial team that had recently won summary judgment on the legal issue: Were certain statements defamatory?

The Court found, as a matter of law, that the statements were defamatory and sent the parties to trial on damages. Similar to a recent case making headlines.

In this situation, the defendant does not get to relitigate the legal issue; they do not get to challenge the Court's previous finding that certain statements were, by law, defamatory.

If a defendant challenges the underlying merits, it does not go well.

At our trial, while I cross-examined the defendant, he called into question the Court's underlying legal determination, prompting the visit to the bench pictured below (that's the back of my head, front and center).

That was my first jury trial--our client won. I'll never forget it. It sealed my desire to continue in civil litigation. And: it was affirmed at all levels of appeal.

#emilylitigates #biglaw #professionalwomen