Lane & Waterman attorneys Ian Russell and Jenny Juehring successfully defended Lee Enterprises and its employees in a lawsuit brought by former Davenport City Administrator Craig Malin. 

Malin’s lawsuit claimed he was defamed in a 2023 article published in the Quad-City Times concerning Malin’s involvement as a retained expert witness in civil litigation concerning the partial collapse of 324 Main Street in Davenport. The article made passing reference to the circumstances of Malin’s previous departure as Davenport City Administrator, noting “The resignation followed controversy over a deal to grade the lot at the privately owned casino.” Malin’s lawsuit, in part, contended that the Quad-City Times’ reference to his departure as a “resignation” rather than a “separation” was defamatory. A copy of the article can be found here.  

On June 4, 2025, the District Court granted Lee Enterprises and its employees summary judgment on all of Malin’s claims. The District Court found that the Quad-City Times article was “substantially true, and, therefore, Malin cannot show falsity.” The District Court concluded, “Part of the First Amendment’s purpose is to stand as a bulwark, protecting people’s freedom to speak and write without fear of government oversight. Malin’s suit invites the Court to overstep that bulwark and act as Lee Enterprises’ copy editor. The Court declines that invitation.” A copy of the District Court’s decision can be found here.

This is Malin’s third defamation lawsuit against Lee Enterprises that Lane & Waterman has successfully defended. On January 24, 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s decision granting Lee Enterprises’ motion for summary judgment in Malin’s second case, noting that the point of the challenged 2019 editorial was “to highlight the importance of journalism to the public and stress it should not be suppressed through litigation efforts.” A copy of the Iowa Court of Appeals opinion can be found here.

On April 14, 2021, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed a jury verdict in favor of Lee Enterprises in Malin’s first case challenging a series of 2015 Quad-City Times articles, editorials, and columns leading up to the end of Malin’s employment with the City of Davenport. A copy of the Iowa Court of Appeals opinion in that case can be found here.

Ian J. Russell joined Lane & Waterman in 2005. He has extensive experience in commercial litigation, medical malpractice defense, and personal injury. He also counsels clients and provides analysis of issues involving media and first amendment law, election issues, and aviation matters. Ian also served as the 137th Iowa State Bar Association President and he previously served as a past President of the Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

Jenny Juehring joined Lane & Waterman in August 2020. Her practice focuses primarily on litigation with focus areas of commercial litigation, employment litigation, medical malpractice, and appellate practice.