"Corporación La Prensa, S.A. [the Panamanian publishing company that produces newspaper La Prensa], was favored by a unanimous ruling by the First Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice. The lawsuit had been brought by the estate of the late magistrate César Pereira Burgos, which sought US$25 million by way of damages over three investigative reports published by La Prensa in 2006.
The 48-page decision, dated March 17, 2025, is the third court decision rejecting the plaintiff's claims for damages. The first instance concluded on Aug. 27, 2014; the appeal was resolved on April 14, 2023; and the civil cassation decision, issued in March 2025, came more than 18 years after the investigative reports were published.
[...]
The ruling highlights the connection between freedom of expression and journalism, which sets a key precedent."
