GALLAGHER v. KUCKER BRUH LLP (2006)

In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for libel, the defendants appeal from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Colabella, J.), entered April 18, 2005, as denied that branch of their motion pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) which was to dismiss the first cause of action to recover damages for libel.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

 On a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) for failure to state a cause of action, the pleading is to be liberally construed, accepting all the facts as alleged in the pleading to be true, and according the plaintiff the benefit of every possible inference (see Leon v. Martinez, 84 N.Y.2d 83, 87, 614 N.Y.S.2d 972, 638 N.E.2d 511;  Gjonlekaj v. Sot, 308 A.D.2d 471, 473, 764 N.Y.S.2d 278).

 Applying these principles to the case at bar, the allegation that the letter written by the defendant Saul D. Bruh contained defamatory statements were sufficient to state a cause of action.   Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly denied that branch of the motion pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) which was to dismiss the first cause of action to recover damages for libel.