KROEMER v. TANTILLO (2000)

Plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages for a defamatory statement defendant allegedly made about plaintiff in an August 5, 1997 television interview.   Plaintiff was convicted in 1989 of various drug charges and received concurrent sentences of 15 years to life.   Plaintiff alleges that, during a news program about the Rockefeller Drug Laws, defendant ascribed certain illegal activity to plaintiff and that the statement made by defendant was false.   Supreme Court erred in granting defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint on the ground of absolute privilege.

 “[A]bsolute privilege is based upon the personal position or status of the speaker and is limited to the speaker's official participation in the processes of government” (600 W. 115th St. Corp. v. Von Gutfeld, 80 N.Y.2d 130, 135, 589 N.Y.S.2d 825, 603 N.E.2d 930, rearg. denied 81 N.Y.2d 759, 594 N.Y.S.2d 720, 610 N.E.2d 393, cert. denied 508 U.S. 910, 113 S.Ct. 2341, 124 L.Ed.2d 252;  see, Park Knoll Assocs. v. Schmidt, 59 N.Y.2d 205, 209, 464 N.Y.S.2d 424, 451 N.E.2d 182).   Defendant's comments to the reporter were not absolutely privileged (see, Clark v. McGee, 49 N.Y.2d 613, 620-621, 427 N.Y.S.2d 740, 404 N.E.2d 1283).   We also reject the contention that defendant's statement constitutes proper retort.   The right to retort is limited to those cases in which the retort is made in connection with the speaker's official duties (see, Duffy v. Kipers, 26 A.D.2d 127, 129, 271 N.Y.S.2d 338;  see also, Aponte v. Newmark & Lewis, 176 A.D.2d 502, 574 N.Y.S.2d 693).

 Defendant contends in the alternative that he is entitled to qualified privilege.   Qualified privilege is an affirmative defense that must be pleaded and proved by the defendant (see, Duffy v. Kipers, supra, at 129, 271 N.Y.S.2d 338).   Thus, consideration of the issue of qualified privilege is premature where issue has not yet been joined.

Order insofar as appealed from unanimously reversed on the law without costs, motion denied and complaint reinstated.

MEMORANDUM: