Overview
- A federal judge in Nevada dismissed Kash Patel’s $10 million defamation case against blogger Jim Stewartson for lack of personal jurisdiction, removing the Nevada court’s authority to decide the dispute.
- The ruling said tagging or posting about a Nevada resident does not by itself create sufficient contacts with the state because Stewartson did not target Nevada readers or Nevada activities.
- Patel had previously won a $250,000 default judgment after Stewartson initially failed to respond, but Stewartson later challenged service and ties to Nevada and asked the court to set the default aside.
- After the dismissal Stewartson posted celebratory insults on social media, while Patel continues to press other high-profile suits, including a separate $250 million claim against The Atlantic that faces motions to dismiss.
- Legal experts say the decision highlights how procedural rules about service and venue can decide online defamation cases and may curb forum-shopping by plaintiffs who sue out-of-state publishers.