WEST PALM BEACH, FL — January 23, 2026 — The Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, granted partial summary judgment in favor of Stanley Fitzgerald and Jared B. Craig, Esq., dismissing all claims asserted against them with prejudice.
In the court’s January 23, 2026 order, Circuit Judge Maxine Cheesman found that “no genuine issues of material facts exist” concerning Fitzgerald and Craig and determined that both defendants were entitled to judgment as a matter of law under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.510.
The court addressed claims involving defamation and conspiracy to commit defamation and found that the plaintiff, identified by the court as a public figure, had failed to establish or plead allegations of malice as required under Florida law.
The order further stated that the core material facts alleged in the defamation claims were contained in a separate investigation report prepared by another defendant, who the court identified as the only party alleged to have published the underlying material.
The court also noted that later press releases and social-media posts referenced either that investigation report or material previously posted publicly by the plaintiff.
The court concluded:
“Defendants, Jared B. Craig, Esq. and Stanley Fitzgerald are entitled to judgement as a matter of law pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 1.510 as no genuine issue of material facts exist concerning them.”
The court then dismissed all claims against Fitzgerald and Craig with prejudice.
The ruling was entered in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Case No. 50-2023-CA-015235-XXXA-MB, on January 23, 2026.
Court: Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County, Florida
Judge: Maxine Cheesman
Case No.: 50-2023-CA-015235-XXXA-MB
Order: Granting Partial Summary Judgment
Date: January 23, 2026
Order:
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY
STATE OF FLORIDA
:
Petitioner, :
vs. :
JARED B. CRAIG, ESQ, : 502023CA015235XXXXAMB
STANLEY FITZGERALD, :
PATRICK COLLIS, :
Defendants, :
Filing # 240127758 E-Filed 01/23/2026 10:18:10 AM
ORDER GRANTING PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Defendants, Jared B. Craig, Esq. and Stanley Fitzgerald, having filed their Joint Motion for Partial Summary Judgment in this Court on November 20, 2025 pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1,510 on Counts I, II and IV of Plaintiff’s Complaint, and this Court after a review of said motion finding that no genuine issues of material facts exist as alleged against Defendants Jared B. Craig, Esq. nor Stanley Fitzgerald, and therefore there are entitled to judgement as a matter of law, this Court Orders as follows:
IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED,
Plaintiff’s allegations contained in her Complaint concerning the material facts create no genuine issues of material fact to support her claims of defamation and conspiracy to commit defamation. Plaintiff being a public figure failed to establish or plead any allegations of malice, as is required by Florida law.
Defendants do not dispute the contents of the report, nor the allegations concerning the publishing of the press releases, social media posts, and the investigation reports as alleged by Plaintiff. Plaintiff’s claims of defamation allege the core material facts that are contained in the Spartan Investigation Report created by Defendant, Patrick Collis who is the only party alleged to have published anything at all. All later press releases and social media posts references either the Spartan Investigation Report, or content created by the Plaintiff herself and posted by her on her own social media account(s).
Therefore, Defendants, Jared B. Craig, Esq. and Stanley Fitzgerald are entitled to judgement as a matter of law pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 1.510 as no genuine issue of material facts exist concerning them, and this Court DISMISSES Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants, Jared B. Craig, Esq. and Stanley Fitzgerald on all counts with prejudice.
DONE AND ORDERED in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida.
Case No. 50-2023-CA-015235-XXXA-MB
50-2023-CA-015235-XXXA-MB 01/23/2026
Maxine Cheesman Circuit Judge
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