CNN and many other outlets had headlines and articles saying that James Damore claimed that "women are biologically unfit for tech work". I can't imagine a more malicious and intentional misrepresentation, rising to outright fabrication, of what Mr. Damore wrote. Yet because Mr. Damore was a public figure (at least with regards to what he wrote), he would find it near impossible to succeed in suing the media corporations and others that smeared him with vicious lies, even though those lies are a major part of how he became a public figure in the first place.
As for the case the EFF is writing about, I wish they would have explained the actual defamation and false light allegations. I suspect that with that information, the EFF's argument wouldn't seem as obviously correct as they portray it. Or perhaps not, but the glaring omission makes you wonder.
EDIT: I'd like to add that monetary damages isn't necessarily the most important remedy for libel. If CNN had to have as their top story for a whole day an apology to Mr. Damore and admission that they lied, I think that could be an adequate remedy.