Hazel Robart v. Post-Standard

We agree with the Appellate Division that plaintiff engaged in conduct which was within the sphere of legitimate public concern. Therefore, even though defendants report of plaintiffs encounter with the authorities was not entirely accurate, no recovery can be had in defamation absent a showing that defendant "acted in a grossly irresponsible manner without due consideration for the standards of information gathering and dissemination ordinarily followed by responsible parties." (Chapadeau v Utica Observer-Dispatch, 38 N.Y.2d 196, 199.) In our opinion, plaintiff has failed to demonstrate the existence of a question of fact on this issue.