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Delaware judge dismisses UnitedHealth’s defamation suit against the Guardian
The ruling tossed all six defamation claims stemming from the Guardian’s 2025 investigation into alleged UnitedHealth payments to nursing homes.
A Delaware superior court judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by UnitedHealth Group against the Guardian over the outlet’s 2025 investigative reporting.
The case, filed in May 2025, challenged the Guardian’s reporting that UnitedHealth secretly made payments to nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers for residents. The Guardian sought dismissal, arguing UnitedHealth failed to state a legally viable claim, and it also raised personal jurisdiction concerns.
In a ruling issued Monday, judge Calvin Scott granted the Guardian’s motion to dismiss and dismissed all six defamation claims. The judge said key parts of the reporting about the bonuses being “secret” or made “secretly” or “quietly” were substantially true.
The Guardian said it welcomed the decision, framing it as a victory for factual reporting and press freedom under the US Constitution’s First Amendment. As of Tuesday morning, UnitedHealth had not issued a public response, and the company can appeal.