For the second time, a federal choose has tossed out defamation claims filed in opposition to Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones and several other associates by a lady who says she is the billionaire’s daughter.
Federal Decide Robert W. Schroeder III on Wednesday dismissed the lawsuit filed by Alexandra Davis “with prejudice,” which means the case can’t be filed once more. Schroeder initially tossed the case final October, and Davis’ attorneys refiled it in November.
Davis, a 27-year-old congressional aide, initially sued Jones in March 2022 to hunt recognition as his organic daughter, a matter that’s nonetheless pending. The separate defamation case, filed that very same month, named as defendants Jones; his longtime private lawyer, Donald P. Jack; and Jim Wilkinson, a communications advisor for the Jones household.
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In his newest order, Schroeder famous that statements made by the defendants about Davis have been basically true, citing messages that “clearly present that Plaintiff requested cash from Jones in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.”
“Primarily based on these details alone, or considered together with all of the communications inside their possession, it’s not believable that Defendants acted with precise malice in characterizing Plaintiff’s actions as a ‘shakedown try’ that was motivated by cash,” the choose wrote in his 17-page order.
Wilkinson mentioned he and Jones would haven’t any quick touch upon the choose’s ruling. Jack couldn’t be reached. Davis’ attorneys, Andrew Bergman and Jay Grey, launched a press release saying they have been “upset within the ruling and intend to enchantment.”
Davis’ defamation declare final 12 months accused Jones and his representatives of waging a public marketing campaign that attacked her character “primarily based knowingly on false statements and accusations.” It cited two ESPN tales written by Don Van Natta Jr., alleging that feedback within the story had portrayed her as an “extortionist” attempting to “shake down” the Jones household.
Schroeder rejected the unique declare, discovering that a few of the alleged defamatory statements have been both true or “not defamatory.” He additionally dominated that Davis certified as a “restricted public determine” and as such had did not make a sound declare of precise malice, a requirement underneath defamation legislation.
Nonetheless, the choose gave Davis’ attorneys a possibility to refile their grievance about feedback that appeared in one of many two ESPN tales, printed March 31, 2022.
Davis’ defamation grievance was the most recent improvement in a rancorous dispute that has performed out in courts and within the media over the alleged motivations behind her 2022 resolution to ask a courtroom to be acknowledged as Jones’ daughter.
In her lawsuit looking for to determine paternity, Davis requested to be launched from the confidentiality settlement her mom agreed to when she was a child. A Dallas choose in February upheld a earlier ruling that Jones undergo a paternity check.