Overview
On October 9, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed the District of Maine’s decision denying dismissal of a defamation suit against our client Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation and remanded with instructions to dismiss the complaint.
The case was brought by several Maine lobster companies and industry associations that sued the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation under Maine law over its Seafood Watch program’s decision to downgrade American lobster from a “yellow” to a “red” rating. On interlocutory appeal, the First Circuit held that the group defamation rule bars the plaintiffs’ claims because a statement that applies equally to every member of an industry of more than 5,600 lobstermen does not single out any one of them.
Amy Mason Saharia argued the appeal before the First Circuit. Lisa S. Blatt, Joseph M. Terry, Nicholas G. Gamse, Claire R. Cahill, Edward L. Pickup, and Harold W. Hild were also members of the appellate team.