Filed Date: March 18, 2024
Closed Date: Dec. 16, 2024
Clearinghouse coding complete
On March 18, 2024, Donald J. Trump filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., ABC News, Inc., and George Stephanopoulos. Represented by Brito, PLLC, Trump asserted that the statements Stephanopoulos made during a March 10, 2024, interview with U.S. Representative Nancy Mace were false and defamatory per se and per quod. The complaint alleged that Stephanopoulos repeatedly stated Trump was "found liable for rape," ignoring the distinction between the jury's finding of sexual abuse versus the New York Penal Law definition of rape, and did so with actual malice given his prior knowledge of the verdict. Plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages, arguing the statements harmed his reputation and were published to millions of viewers. The case was assigned to Chief District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga and Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid.
The defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss on May 10, 2024, arguing that the lawsuit was barred by collateral estoppel due to findings in the New York Carroll litigation where the judge determined that the "sexual abuse" finding was substantially true to the common understanding of "rape". They further argued the statements were substantially true and protected by Florida's fair report privilege. On July 24, 2024, Judge Altonaga denied the motion to dismiss. The Court held that collateral estoppel did not apply because the issues and context differed from the New York proceedings and that Trump had plausibly alleged the statements were susceptible to a defamatory interpretation, noting the distinction between the jury's specific verdict and the anchor's statements. The Court also found the defendants had not met their burden at the dismissal stage to prove the fair report privilege applied, as a reasonable viewer could find the report misleading. 742 F.Supp.3d 1168.
Following the denial of the motion to dismiss, the case proceeded to discovery. The court scheduled discovery to complete by December 2024, and set a trial date for April 2025. On December 13, 2024, the parties entered into a settlement agreement. Under the terms of the settlement, ABC agreed to transfer $15 million to President Trump's presidential library and museum once it was established, and to pay $1 million to Trump's counsel. Additionally, the defendants agreed to publish a statement expressing regret for the statements made during the interview.
On December 14th, the parties filed a Joint Notice of Settlement, and the Court issued an administrative order closing the case on December 16th. The parties filed a Joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice on December 23, 2024. This case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Jack Moore (12/6/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68351681/parties/trump-v-american-broadcasting-companies-inc/
Altonaga, Cecilia M. (Florida)
Brito, Alejandro (Florida)
Azmi, Nimra H. (Florida)
Catsambas, Marietta (Florida)
Fugate, Rachel Elise (Florida)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68351681/trump-v-american-broadcasting-companies-inc/
Last updated March 5, 2026, 1:38 p.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Donald Trump personal capacity lawsuits
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 18, 2024
Closing Date: Dec. 16, 2024
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiff is Donald Trump, 45th and 47th President of the United States, suing in his personal capacity.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Southern District of Florida 1:24-cv-21050
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Amount Defendant Pays: $15,000,000
Issues
General/Misc.:
Case Summary of Trump v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47084/ (last updated 12/6/2025).