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Free Speech

Libel Lawsuit Over Highly Publicized L.A. Landlord-Tenant Dispute Thrown Out

The court is unmoved by the claims that defendants' coverage of the underlying dispute led to people threatening her.

Eugene Volokh | 8.12.2026 8:01 AM

From Doe v. Nexstar Media Group, Inc., decided July 27 by L.A. Superior Court Judge Gary Roberts:

This case arises from a publicized landlord-tenant dispute between Plaintiff Jane Doe … and Defendant Aleksandar Jovanovic …. Plaintiff alleges that [Jovanovic] made various false statements about Plaintiff to various third parties, including various news outlets for the sole purpose of terrorizing her, spreading outrageous lies about her, resulting in obscene threats to her physical safety….

Plaintiff alleges …. "Defendants Jovanovic and Rucci played out this strategy by effectively making themselves stars of Defendant Nexstar's show "Banfield" hosted by Ashleigh Banfield …. On numerous episodes, Banfield hosted Defendants Jovanovic and Rucci, outrageously and falsely stating, or otherwise inferring that Plaintiff was engaging in criminal conduct, and other false stories. Defendant Nexstar otherwise plastered Plaintiffs image all throughout the internet and the national media, shaming Plaintiff, a sexual assault survivor, inciting numerous third parties to threaten Plaintiff with physical violence." "Defendant Nexstar also posted Plaintiffs image all over the national media and the internet, shaming and humiliating her with lies."

"Nexstar know[s] that Plaintiff has received numerous threats to her personal safety because her image and........

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