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Disparaging Allegations in Complaint Protected by Judicial Privilege

In a defamation action, after finding that the disparaging allegations in a complaint were protected by judicial privilege, the Second Department criticized the use of invective in the pleadings:

The court properly concluded that the statements made in the underlying complaint were pertinent to the action and therefore absolutely protected by the judicial proceedings privilege… . The allegedly defamatory allegations were broadly pertinent to the tortious interference claim, as they bore on the mother’s intent, provided the context for the dispute, and supported the claim for punitive damages… . The pertinence of the statements negates any finding of abuse of the judicial proceedings privilege … . Moreover, the statements were expressions of opinion, not fact, or they constituted hyperbole, which are also absolutely protected… . *  *  * Nevertheless, although we affirm, we note our disapproval of defendants’ use of a filed pleading as a vehicle for offensive, albeit nondefamatory invective. Such conduct offends the dignity of judicial proceedings and should not be condoned.  Joseph v Joseph, 2013 NY Slip Op 04111, 1st Dept, 6-6-13

 

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