No. 24-7287

Anthony Michael Branch v. Aidan T. Kearney, et al.

Lower Court: Massachusetts
Docketed: 2025-05-27
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
IFP
Tags: actual-malice defamation media-publications public-figure summary-judgment
Key Terms:
DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2025-09-29
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Whether a private individual who becomes the subject of defamatory online publications may be designated a "limited-purpose public figure" based solely on those publications and thus require proof of actual malice. Petitioner's public visibility arose only after the publication of the defamatory statements.

2. Whether summary judgment is proper when the record contains direct and circumstantial evidence that a publisher knowingly disseminated false statements or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a private individual who becomes the subject of defamatory online publications may be designated a 'limited-purpose public figure' based solely on those publications and thus require proof of actual malice

Docket Entries

2025-10-06
Petition DENIED.
2025-07-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-02-12
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due June 26, 2025)

Attorneys

Anthony Branch
Anthony Michael Branch — Petitioner