Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.

Holding that summary judgment is not appropriate if "the dispute about a material fact is ‘genuine,’ that is, if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party"

Middlesex Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Assn

Holding that because an important state interest was involved and no bad faith, harassment, or other exceptional circumstances dictated to the contrary, federal courts should abstain from interfering with ongoing state bar disciplinary proceedings

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan

Holding that a public official or public figure can recover damages for defamation on a matter of public concern only if he proves that the speaker acted with actual malice

Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.

Holding that a private defamation plaintiff cannot recover punitive damages without proving actual malice

R.A.V. v. St. Paul

Holding the government may not "license one side of a debate to fight freestyle, while requiring the other to follow Marquis of Queensberry rules"

Milkovich v. Lorain Journal

Holding that statement of "opinion" reasonably implying false and defamatory facts is subject to same culpability requirements as statement of facts

Masson v. New Yorker Magazine, Inc.

Holding that "plaintiff must demonstrate that the author in fact entertained serious doubts as to the truth of his publication"

Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union

Holding that the clear-error standard "does not inhibit an appellate court's power to correct errors of law, including ... a finding of fact that is predicated on a misunderstanding of the governing rule of law"

Babbitt v. Farm Workers

Holding a case justiciable even though the plaintiffs disavowed any intent to "propagate untruths"

Houston v. Hill

Holding that the First Amendment does not permit states to “provide the police with unfettered discretion to arrest individuals for words or conduct that annoy or offend them”

Section 1961 - Definitions

Defining what the terms “person” and “enterprise” include

Section 452 - Matters permitting judicial notice

Permitting notice to be taken of the "[o]fficial acts of the . . . judicial departments . . . of any state of the United States"

Section 459 - Duties of reviewing court

Reviewing court must notice matter noticed by trial court

Section 1257 - State courts; certiorari

Holding that a final judgment rendered by the highest state court may only be reviewed by the United States Supreme Court

Section 12900 - Short title

Section 1021.5 - Attorney's fees in action resulting in enforcement of important right affecting public interest

Providing that "a court may award" attorney's fees "to a successful party "

Section 518 - Extortion

Stating that extortion is the obtaining property through the use of force or fear

Rule 8.252 - Judicial notice; findings and evidence on appeal