Journalist Deemed “Limited Public Figure.”

A defamation complaint was dismissed because the plaintiff, a journalist, was deemed to be a “limited public figure,” and there was no showing the challenged statements were made with “actual malice or gross irresponsibility.”  The First Department noted that the statement which included the word “liar” was likely to be understood as opinion, not fact.  Farber vs Jeffreys, 9297, 106399/09 First Dept. 2-19-13