Lawsuit against Accuracy in Media Over "Doxxing Trucks" Moves Forward
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
New York, NY, March 5, 2026 –
In a significant win for free speech, a New York Supreme Court judge has cleared the way for a major defamation and civil rights lawsuit against Accuracy in Media (“AIM”) and its president, Adam Guillette. Justice Phaedra F. Perry-Bond denied the Defendants' motion to dismiss in its entirety, rejecting AIM’s attempt to use the First Amendment and anti-SLAPP laws to shield their conduct.
The lawsuit arises from student protests at Columbia University against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. In an attempt to bolster its fundraising, intimidate students into silence, and fan the flames of antisemitism and islamophobia, Defendants Accuracy in Media and its President Adam Guillette preyed upon students at Columbia and Barnard who spoke out or were perceived to have spoken out in support of Palestinian human rights and against the genocide unfolding in Gaza beginning in fall of 2023. Defendants targeted the Plaintiffs in this case for their perceived support of Palestinian rights, plastered their names and photos on advertisement trucks defaming them as leading antisemites and spent several weeks driving these vehicles around Columbia University’s campus. Defendants moved to dismiss chalking up their reckless, vile, and menacing actions to a “mistake” although they engaged in these actions without any evidence to support the serious allegation of antisemitism.
In a strongly worded decision, the Court ruled that “antisemitism is not an issue for Defendants to profit from by impermissibly utilizing Plaintiffs’ names and images while simultaneously and recklessly destroying Plaintiffs' health and reputations.” The Court found that the Plaintiffs—who were targeted by “doxxing trucks” and predatory websites labeling them “Columbia’s Leading Antisemites” —sufficiently alleged that these tactics were actually “advertisements in disguise” or “clickbait” designed to bait donors rather than report the news.
Yusuf Hafez, Plaintiff and former Columbia Student stated “Today’s ruling is a huge relief. While we were trying to finish school, these Defendants targeted us with a campaign of intimidation—even sending mobile billboards to our homes. The stress made it impossible to attend classes or take exams, and we spent months fearing for our futures. I hope this allows students at Columbia and around the City of New York to speak out about issues that matter without fear.”
Luna Droubi, attorney for Plaintiffs, stated: “Today’s decision is a resounding victory for students who have been living in fear of speaking up and exercising their right to speak out about the atrocities in Palestine. By denying the motion to dismiss in its entirety, the Court has affirmed that the First Amendment is not a license to engage in the reckless and malicious destruction of students' reputations for profit.”
Tahanie Aboushi, attorney for Plaintiffs, stated: The Court’s ruling today saw through the weaponization of antisemitism to intimidate, harass, dox, and suppress the first amendment rights of students at Columbia University for speaking in support of Palestinian human rights and against the genocide. We are very much looking forward to discovery.
Tala Alfoqaha, attorney for Plaintiffs, stated: “Today's victory is personal. As a law student, I too was targeted by the Defendants, who plastered my name and face on a bus for my advocacy against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. For too long, Accuracy in Media has weaponized false claims of antisemitism against students. The Court’s ruling marks a step towards accountability.”
The decision can be accessed here:
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Plaintiffs are represented by Luna Droubi, Jody Yetzer, and Tala Alfoqaha of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP and Tahanie Aboushi of the Aboushi Law Firm PLLC.
CONTACT
Luna Droubi (212) 277-5875, ldroubi@blhny.com
Tahanie Aboushi, (212) 391-8500, tahanie@aboushi.com
Tala Alfoqaha, (212) 277-5882, talfoqaha@blhny.com
