Halstead v. Strauss

In three related actions, inter alia, to recover damages for defamation, the defendants in action No. 2 appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County (Sproat, J.). dated July 6, 2009, which denied their motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint in that action.

Ordered that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs, and the motion of the defendants in action No. 2 for summary judgment dismissing the complaint in that action is granted.

“The essence of the tort of [defamation] is the publication of a statement about an individual that is both false and defamatory.…