No. 25-295

WG/Welch Mechanical Contractors, LLC v. International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation Workers, Local Union 100 - Sheet Metal Division, et al.

Lower Court: Fourth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-09-15
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: civil-procedure defamation first-amendment malicious-speech pleading-standard subjective-intent
Key Terms:
Arbitration ERISA FirstAmendment LaborRelations Jurisdiction
Latest Conference: 2025-11-07
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a plaintiff in a malicious defamation claim must plead facts revealing a defendant's subjective state of mind or if a plausible allegation of likely malicious intent suffices

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

Whether the plaintiff of a malicious defamation claim must plead facts that directly reveal a defendant’s subjective state of mind, or whether the pleading standard is satisfied when the complaint plausibly alleges that the defendant was the likely organizer of inherently malicious attacks. Whether a defamation claim may be dismissed on the ground that the contested speech comprised individual statements that are individually true or opinion, even when that speech implies false and defamatory facts about the plaintiff.

Docket Entries

2025-11-10
Petition DENIED.
2025-10-22
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
2025-10-10
Waiver of right of respondent SMART, Local Union 100 to respond filed.
2025-09-11
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 15, 2025)

Attorneys

SMART, Local Union 100
Lucas R. AubreySherman Dunn, P.C., Respondent
Lucas R. AubreySherman Dunn, P.C., Respondent
WG/Welch Mechanical Contractors, LLC
Richard J. CromerLeech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl, LLC, Petitioner
Richard J. CromerLeech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl, LLC, Petitioner