WAYNE JONES INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF CELESTINE CHANEY DECEASED PLAINTIFF RESPONDENT v. MEAN LLC ET AL DEFENDANTS ALPHABET INC GOOGLE LLC YOUTUBE LLC AND REDDIT INC DEFENDANTS APPELLANTS APPEAL NO (2025)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.

WAYNE JONES, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF CELESTINE CHANEY, DECEASED, PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT, v. MEAN LLC, ET AL., DEFENDANTS, ALPHABET INC., GOOGLE, LLC, YOUTUBE, LLC, AND REDDIT, INC., DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS. (APPEAL NO. 5.)

539 Decided: July 25, 2025

PRESENT: LINDLEY, J.P., CURRAN, BANNISTER, SMITH, AND NOWAK, JJ.

ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP, WASHINGTON D.C. (ERIC A. SHUMSKY, ADMITTED PRO HAC VICE, OF COUNSEL), WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C., NEW YORK CITY, WEBSTER SZANYI LLP, BUFFALO, AND PERKINS COIE LLP, NEW YORK CITY, FOR DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS ALPHABET, INC., GOOGLE, LLC, YOUTUBE, LLC, AND REDDIT, INC. TYCKO & ZAVAREEI LLP, WASHINGTON, D.C. (GLENN E. CHAPPELL, ADMITTED PRO HAC VICE, OF COUNSEL), EVERYTOWN LAW, NEW YORK CITY, AND LAW OFFICES OF BONNER AND BONNER, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA, FOR PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT. HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP, NEW YORK CITY (JASMEET K. AHUJA OF COUNSEL), FOR CHAMBER OF PROGRESS, ENGINE ADVOCACY, AND WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION, AMICUS CURIAE. HOLWELL SHUSTER & GOLDBERG LLP, NEW YORK CITY (DANIEL M. SULLIVAN OF COUNSEL), FOR PRODUCTS LIABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL, AMICUS CURIAE. CHELUS, HERDZIK, SPEYER & MONTE, P.C., BUFFALO (ISABELLA S. JANKOWSKI OF COUNSEL), FOR CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY, AMICUS CURIAE.

OPINION AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is reversed on the law without costs, the motion is granted and the amended complaint is dismissed against defendants-appellants.

Same opinion as in Patterson v Meta Platforms, Inc. ([appeal No. 1] — AD3d — [July 25, 2025] [4th Dept 2025]).

All concur except Bannister and Nowak, JJ., who dissent and vote to affirm in the same dissenting opinion as in Patterson v Meta Platforms, Inc. ([appeal No. 1] — AD3d — [July 25, 2025] [4th Dept 2025]).

Entered: July 25, 2025

Ann Dillon Flynn

Clerk of the Court

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