Washington Judge Protects Free Speech in XRP Influencer Lawsuit Dismissal
A Washington federal judge has dismissed Jake Claver's defamation lawsuit against Zach Rector under the state's Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. The ruling, granted on September 2 by Judge Kymberly K. Evanson, allows Rector to seek attorneys' fees and litigation costs from Claver.
The lawsuit, which sought $30 million in damages, was filed in January and claimed that Rector made false statements about Claver's businesses through videos published in December 2025. However, the court found that these statements were protected speech under Washington's statute, which covers civil claims based on public expression.
The dismissal does not guarantee that the litigation has finished, as Claver can still submit an amended complaint by September 23. The ruling is seen as a victory for free speech and a warning to individuals who may misuse the legal system to silence critics.