Home > Great American Court Cases > Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.

Legal Citation: 418 U.S. 323 (1974)

Petitioner
Elmer Gertz

Respondent
Robert Welch, Inc.

Petitioner's Claim
That an article in the respondent's magazine had defamed him, and that the respondent was liable for damages.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
Wayne B. Giampietro

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
Clyde J. Watts

Justices for the Court
Harry A. Blackmun, Thurgood Marshall, Lewis F. Powell, Jr. (writing for the Court), William H. Rehnquist, Potter Stewart

Justices Dissenting
William J. Brennan, Jr., Warren E. Burger, William O. Douglas, Byron R. White

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
25 June 1974

Decision
The Court overruled the court of appeals and district court rulings and held that the respondent was liable for damages.