On February 24, 2015, the Court of Appeals issued a decision in Front, Inc. v. Khalil, 2015 NY Slip Op. 01554, holding that statements made by attorneys prior to the commencement of litigation are protected by a qualified privilege if the statements are pertinent to a good-faith anticipated litigation. In Front, Inc., counsel for plaintiff... Read more »
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Posts Categorized: Defamation
Court Examines Absolute and Qualified Privilege to Defamation Claims
On January 15, 2015, Justice Bransten of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in International Publishing Concepts, LLC v. Locatelli, 2015 NY Slip Op. 50049(U), analyzing the contours of the litigation privilege and claims for defamation. In International Publishing Concepts, the plaintiff moved to dismiss counterclaims by the defendant and third-party defendant... Read more »
Defamation Claim Dismissed Where Statements Were Protected By “Fair Reporting” Privilege
On August 28, 2014, Justice Kornreich of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in GEM Holdco, LLC v. Changing World Technologies, L.P., Index No. 650941/2013, ruling that a defamation claim arising from a press release explaining a party’s defenses and anticipated counterclaims in a pending lawsuit was barred by New York’s absolute... Read more »
Defamation Claim Dismissed Because Not Pled With Particularity
On April 23, 2014, Justice Schweitzer of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Patterson v. Wilhelmina Intl., Ltd., 2014 NY Slip Op. 31092(U), dismissing a defamation claim because it was not pled with particularity. In Patterson, the defendant moved to dismiss the plaintiff’s defamation claim. The court granted the motion because... Read more »
First Department Addresses Scope of the Judicial Proceedings Privilege
On November 12, 2013, the First Department issued a decision in Hadar v. Pierce, 2013 NY Slip Op. 07414, dismissing claims based on, among things, the judicial proceedings privilege. The First Department noted that “[t]he judicial proceedings privilege applies to causes of action other than defamation. However, it does not apply to” allegations of “malpractice,... Read more »