Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
What is the status of the Summer Zervos defamation case against Donald Trump?
Executive summary
Summer Zervos filed a New York state defamation suit against Donald Trump in January 2017 after he publicly called her allegations of sexual misconduct “lies;” the case survived multiple immunity and procedural challenges while Trump was president but Zervos ultimately discontinued the lawsuit in November 2021 [1] [2] [3]. State-court fights over presidential immunity and discovery delayed the case for years, with New York courts repeatedly rejecting routine stays while the question of immunity was litigated [4] [5] [6].
1. How the case began — a defamation claim triggered by public denials
Zervos says Trump groped and kissed her in 2007 after she appeared on The Apprentice; she sued for defamation in January 2017 after he publicly called her and others “liars” during the 2016 campaign, seeking an apology, retraction and nominal damages (at least $2,914) rather than large damages initially [1] [5].
2. The immunity fight that kept the case stalled
Trump’s lawyers repeatedly argued that the Supremacy Clause and presidential immunity barred the state court from proceeding while he was in office, asking New York appellate courts to dismiss or freeze the case; New York’s highest court repeatedly refused to fully unlock discovery while it considered whether a sitting president could be sued in state court, creating long delays [4] [6] [5].
3. Decisions and rulings that favored Zervos moving forward
New York trial and intermediate appellate rulings allowed key discovery and refused emergency stays, with at least one New York judge (Justice Jennifer Schecter) ruling the lawsuit could proceed and rejecting the argument that the president had immunity from the suit [5] [7].
4. What happened after Trump left office — Zervos tried to revive the case
After Trump’s presidency ended, Zervos sought to move the litigation forward and asked state courts to dismiss the appeal that had put the case on hold while questions about immunity were decided; that step reflected Zervos’ strategy that liability questions could proceed once presidential immunity was no longer invoked [8].
5. The abrupt end: Zervos discontinues the lawsuit in 2021
After nearly five years of litigation and procedural battles, Zervos quietly ended her defamation suit in November 2021; reporting says she dropped the case without monetary compensation and that the dismissal spared Trump from deposition in that matter [9] [2] [3]. Zervos’ attorneys said she “no longer wishes to litigate” and that she secured the right to speak publicly about her experience [3] [10].
6. Conflicting portrayals and competing narratives
Trump’s lawyers and spokespeople framed Zervos’ withdrawal as vindication and emphasized that no money changed hands; Alina Habba called the end “prudent” and Trump said he was “totally vindicated” [3] [11]. Zervos’ lawyers framed the decision as her choice after years of litigation and noted she retained the ability to speak publicly [10]. Available sources do not provide a detailed account of all strategic reasons behind the discontinuance beyond those public statements (not found in current reporting).
7. Why the case mattered beyond this single suit
Legal observers and advocacy groups saw the case as a test of whether state courts could adjudicate claims against a sitting president and whether denials in the political arena can be the basis for defamation liability; organizations like Protect Democracy publicly argued against presidential immunity in this context and welcomed court decisions allowing the suit to proceed [7] [12]. Commentators warned that the case could open the door to depositions probing Trump’s statements and contacts with other accusers [13] [5].
8. Present status and takeaways for readers
As of the reporting in the provided sources, the lawsuit was discontinued by Summer Zervos in November 2021 and therefore is no longer an active defamation suit — the public record shows no settlement payment and both sides characterizing the outcome differently [2] [3] [9]. The procedural litigation over immunity and state-court jurisdiction, however, had broader legal implications that multiple commentators and groups emphasized while the case was pending [7] [12].
Limitations: my account uses only the supplied news and advocacy pieces; if you want post-2021 developments or additional documentary records, those items are not contained in the provided results and are therefore not reflected here (not found in current reporting).