Catherine Gaeta v. New York News Inc‪.‬

This libel action, brought by a nonpublic figure against a newspaper publisher and reporter, tests the reach of Chapadeau v Utica Observer-Dispatch (38 N.Y.2d 196). In Chapadeau this court held that "where the content of the article is arguably within the sphere of legitimate public concern, which is reasonably related to matters warranting public exposition," a defamed party may recover damages only on a showing of gross irresponsibility (38 N.Y.2d, p 199). Plaintiff asserts that defamatory statements about her, in an article concerning a State program which featured her former husband, fall outside the area defined by Chapadeau, and that a standard of simple negligence should determine defendants liability. We conclude both that the challenged statements are within Chapadeau and that defendants were not grossly irresponsible,