Hugel v. Milberg, Weiss, Bershad, Hynes & Lerach, LLP

COFFIN, Senior Circuit Judge.

Appellant Max Hugel contends that he was defamed by allegations in a complaint filed in a federal securities fraud lawsuit (the “Presstek litigation”) to which he was not a party. He brought suit in state court seeking damages for defamation and legal malpractice. The defendants, four law firms, removed the case to federal court and then moved to dismiss. Concluding that neither of Hugel’s claims was viable, the district court granted the motion. The court wrote a thoughtful opinion recognizing that certain aspects of the defamation claim were close, but…