Marino v. Wallace

• Decision Date: 10 November 1978
• Citation: Marino v. Wallace, 410 N.Y.S.2d 488, 65 A.D.2d 946 (N.Y. App. Div. 1978)
• Parties: Andrew A. MARINO, Appellant, v. Francis X. WALLACE, Respondent.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 488

410 N.Y.S.2d 488

65 A.D.2d 946

Andrew A. MARINO, Appellant, v.Francis X. WALLACE, Respondent.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department.

Nov. 10, 1978.

Failmezger & Liegel, Syracuse, for appellant by Robert G. Liegel, syracuse.

Bond, Schoeneck & King, Syracuse, for respondent by S. Paul Battaglia, Syracuse.

Before MARSH, P. J., and MOULE, CARDAMONE, SIMONS and SCHNEPP, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

We affirm because in our view the allegedly slanderous remarks were made during the course of a Public Service Commission Hearing which was in substance a quasi-judicial proceeding to which an absolute privilege attaches (Studley, Inc. v. Lefrak, 50 A.D.2d 162, 376 N.Y.S.2d 200, affd. on other grounds41 N.Y.2d 881, 393 N.Y.S.2d 980, 362 N.E.2d 611;seeToker v. Pollak, 44 N.Y.2d 211, 222, 405 N.Y.S.2d 1, 6, 376 N.E.2d 163, 168;Wiener v. Weintraub, 22 N.Y.2d 330, 292 N.Y.S.2d 667, 239 N.E.2d 540;Andrews v. Gardiner, 224 N.Y. 440, 446-447, 121 N.E. 341).

Order unanimously affirmed without costs.