A separate defamation case brought by Amin against NBCUniversal over its news networks’ reporting of the allegations cleared the summary judgment stage last month and is set to head to trial.
Defenses and Jurisdiction Issues
In June, Amazon and Wondery said they are protected under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which gives immunity from liability for distributing third-party content. They argued they are also protected when the content relates to public interest concerns unless it was published with actual malice.
O’Brien and Morbid, in a separate motion to dismiss, argued that the Georgia court where Amin’s suit was filed has no jurisdiction over the Massachusetts-based company. Amin countered that Morbid cannot distance itself from its ties to Georgia by claiming Wondery is responsible for the podcast’s distribution. He stated, “Since Georgia’s long-arm statute encompasses actions taken ‘through an agent,’ this distinction is irrelevant.”
Amazon Must Face Podcast Defamation Suit : Legal Representation
Amazon and Wondery are represented by Nicholas H. Howell and Jonathan M. Kaufman of King & Spalding LLP, and Dylan J. Price, Tenaya Rodewald, and Matthew G. Halgren of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. Morbid is represented by Amanda D. Proctor of Carlton Fields and Peter Biagetti, Daniel Goodrich, and Caroline Enright of Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo PC. O’Brien is represented by John Ray of John Ray & Associates, and Sarah M. MacKimm and Wayne D. Taylor of Mozley Finlayson & Loggins LLP. Amin is represented by Stacey Godfrey Evans, Ryan E. Harbin, and J. Amble Johnson of Stacey Evans Law, and Scott R. Grubman of Chilivis Grubman Dalbey & Warner LLP.
