Bridgwood v. Newspaper PM Inc. — 276 A.D.2d 858

Majority

p. 858

Frank Bridgwood, Respondent, v. Newspaper PM Inc. et al., Appellants.

In our opinion the defense that the article was a fair and true report of a judicial, public and official proceeding, privileged under section 337 of the Civil Practice Act, is a defense available to defendants which should not be summarily struck out as insufficient in law. (Baumann v. Newspaper Enterprises, 270 App. Div. 825 ; Farrell v. New York Evening Post, 167 Misc. 412 .) Whether the other matter contained in the article was fair comment is a question for the jury under the facts here presented. (Briarcliff Lodge Hotel v. Citizen-Sentinal Publishers, 260 N. Y. 106 , 116; Hoeppner v. Dunkirk Print Co., 254 N. Y. 95 , 105; Goodrich v. Woolcott, 3 Cow. 231 , 240.) Where, in libel, there is presented the question of identity of the person of whom the article is written and published, that question is one for determination by a jury. (Stokes v. Morning Journal Assn., 66 App. Div. 569 , 570, and authorities there cited; Fleckenstein v. Friedman, 266 N. Y. 19 , 23; Kehoe v. New York Tribune, 139 Misc. 420 , 422, affd. 235 App. Div. 612 .) Nolan, P. J., Carswell, Adel, Sneed and Wenzel, JJ., concur. [ 194 Misc. 750 .]

Cases cited

Farrell v. New York Evening Post, Inc. 167 Misc. 412 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1938-04-20 p. 858
Briarcliff Lodge Hotel, Inc. v. Citizen-Sentinel Publishers, Inc. 260 N. Y. 106 N.Y. 1932-11-22 at 116 p. 858
Hoeppner v. Dunkirk Printing Co. 254 N. Y. 95 N.Y. 1930-06-03 at 105 p. 858
Goodrich v. Woolcott 3 Cow. 231 N.Y. Sup. Ct. at 240 p. 858
Stokes v. Morning Journal Ass'n 66 App. Div. 569 N.Y. App. Div. 1901-12-06 at 570 p. 858
Fleckenstein v. Freidman 266 N. Y. 19 N.Y. 1934-11-27 at 23 p. 858
Kehoe v. New York Tribune, Inc. 139 Misc. 420 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1931-01-12 at 422 p. 858
Bridgwood v. Newspaper PM Inc. 194 Misc. 750 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1949-03-15 p. 858