Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Partner Benjamin Levine, along with Partner Jeffrey Camhi and Associate Christina Stylianou Sinclair, obtained a decisive victory for their client, NFL cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, when a New Jersey Superior Court judge dismissed with prejudice, a defamation lawsuit, filed in connection with social media posts and awarded Gardner attorneys’ fees and costs.
The plaintiff, a fan from Mississippi, alleged that Gardner defamed her by insinuating she had an OnlyFans account following a public exchange on X in August 2024. The complaint claimed reputational injury and sought damages based on the alleged false implication.
The GRSM team moved to dismiss the action under New Jersey’s anti-SLAPP statute, arguing that Gardner’s remarks were protected speech, that the complaint failed to plead viable defamatory content, and that the anti-SLAPP statute mandates fee-shifting when a claim lacks merit.
In July 2025, the court granted the motion and dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, finding that the plaintiff had not made a legally cognizable claim. In a subsequent ruling, the court awarded Gardner attorneys’ fees and costs, concluding that under the anti-SLAPP framework, the plaintiff must bear the legal burden of a meritless claim.
This result underscores GRSM’s robust practice in high-stakes sports & entertainment, defamation, and First Amendment matters.
This win by the GRSM team was featured in Sportico, Yahoo Sports, Cincinnati Enquirer and Law360. Subscription may be required.