​Matthew Lee (Partner-McLean, VA) and Haley Mathis (Associate-McLean, VA) represented a media client located in Washington, D.C. The client wrote articles on the alleged retaliation against two whistleblowers by the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. The plaintiff, chief counsel for the OIG, sued the firm’s client for defamation, false light, and infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit was ultimately transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and assigned to District Judge Mehta. On behalf of the firm’s client, Haley and Matt moved to dismiss all claims under Rule 12(b)(6), specifically arguing that the plaintiff’s defamation claims were not actionable under Pennsylvania’s fair report privilege (the case was originally filed in the Middle District of Pennsylvania); and to the extent that the privilege did not apply to a specific statement, that the plaintiff had failed to plead sufficient facts to support an allegation of actual falsehood (the statements touched on matters of public concern); and, lastly, that the amended complaint failed to allege actual or NY Times malice, which is required for an action by a public official – the plaintiff was, as chief counsel for the SSA OIG, clearly such an official. Further, they argued that the plaintiff’s claims for false light and infliction of emotional distress were not actionable for the same reasons that the defamation claims were not actionable. In a March 26, 2025, Order, Judge Mehta granted our client’s motion to dismiss in all respects. The order was accompanied by a 64-page memorandum opinion setting forth in detail the Judge’s reasoning for granting our client’s and the other defendants’ motions to dismiss. The entire case was dismissed, and the defendants are waiting to see if the plaintiff will appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.