Shiles v. News Syndicate Co.

Chief Judge Fuld.

One of the questions posed by this appeal is whether the defendant, which published articles detailing charges made by the plaintiff’s wife in a matrimonial action, may plead the absolute privilege of fair and true report of a judicial proceeding, under section 74 of the Civil Rights Law, as a defense to libel and to invasion of privacy causes of action. In the spring of 1967, the defendant, News Syndicate Co., Inc., published a series of three articles in its newspapers, the Daily News and the Sunday News, purporting to report a separation suit brought against George W.…