Greenmoss Builders, Inc. v. Dun & Bradstreet, Inc.

Plaintiff, a residential and commercial building contractor, brought this defamation action against defendant as a result of an erroneous credit report issued to defendant’s subscribers (plaintiff’s creditors). The credit report alleged that plaintiff had filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy and, in addition, grossly misrepresented plaintiff’s assets and liabilities. The false nature of the report’s allegations has never been disputed.

In its complaint, plaintiff asserted that the consequences of defendant’s report, which it insisted was published with reckless disregard for truth and…