BERGER v. TEMPLE BETH EL OF GREAT NECK (2003)

In an action to recover damages for defamation, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Joseph, J.), dated December 14, 2001, which granted the defendants' motion, inter alia, to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1).

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs, the motion is denied, and the complaint is reinstated.

The plaintiff commenced this action against several parties, including Temple Beth El of Great Neck and its executive board, claiming that they had published a statement defaming him to the entire congregation.   In lieu of serving an answer, the defendants moved, inter alia, to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1), contending that documentary evidence established that the alleged defamatory statement was made in good faith on a topic of common interest to Temple members, and thus protected by a qualified privilege.   The Supreme Court granted the defendants' motion on this ground.   We reverse.

 Where, as here, a defendant moves pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) to dismiss an action asserting the existence of a defense founded upon documentary evidence, the documentary evidence “must be such that it resolves all factual issues as a matter of law, and conclusively disposes of the plaintiff's claim” (Trade Source v. Westchester Wood Works, 290 A.D.2d 437, 736 N.Y.S.2d 605;  see 511 W. 232nd Owners Corp. v. Jennifer Realty Co., 98 N.Y.2d 144, 152, 746 N.Y.S.2d 131, 773 N.E.2d 496;  Museum Trading Co. v. Bantry, 281 A.D.2d 524, 721 N.Y.S.2d 822).   Here, the defendants' submissions in support of their motion included two affidavits which should not have been considered by the Supreme Court on a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) because they do not constitute documentary evidence (see Siegel, Practice Commentaries, McKinney's Cons. Laws of N.Y., Book 7B, CPLR C3211:10, at 20).   Furthermore, the defendants' remaining submissions did not establish, as a matter of law, that the allegedly defamatory statement was protected by a qualified privilege because the entire congregation shared a common interest in its subject matter (see Liberman v. Gelstein, 80 N.Y.2d 429, 437, 590 N.Y.S.2d 857, 605 N.E.2d 344;  Stukuls v. State of New York, 42 N.Y.2d 272, 279, 397 N.Y.S.2d 740, 366 N.E.2d 829).   The proffered evidence also failed to conclusively disprove the plaintiff's claim that the statement was made with malice, which would overcome the qualified privilege (see Liberman v. Gelstein, supra;  Skarren v. Household Fin. Corp., 296 A.D.2d 488, 745 N.Y.S.2d 556).   Accordingly, the Supreme Court erred in granting that branch of the defendants' motion which was to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1).

 As an alternative ground for dismissal of the complaint, the defendants argue that the Supreme Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over this action because it involves the internal governance of a religious institution.   Although the Supreme Court did not address that branch of the defendants' motion, we reach this issue now since the absence of subject matter jurisdiction is a defect so fundamental to the court's power to adjudicate a dispute that it may be raised at any stage of the action, and may not be waived (see Lacks v. Lacks, 41 N.Y.2d 71, 74-75, 390 N.Y.S.2d 875, 359 N.E.2d 384).   However, we find no merit to the defendants' jurisdictional objection.   Since the instant defamation action can be settled by the application of neutral principles of law, and does not implicate matters of religious doctrine and practice, the Supreme Court may properly exercise subject matter jurisdiction (see Jones v. Wolf, 443 U.S. 595, 99 S.Ct. 3020, 61 L.Ed.2d 775;  First Presbyt. Church of Schenectady v. United Presbyt. Church in U.S. of Amer., 62 N.Y.2d 110, 476 N.Y.S.2d 86, 464 N.E.2d 454, cert. denied 469 U.S. 1037, 105 S.Ct. 514, 83 L.Ed.2d 404;  Kapsalis v. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of N. & S. Am., 276 A.D.2d 595, 714 N.Y.S.2d 902;  Rende & Esposito Consultants v. St. Augustine's R.C. Church, 131 A.D.2d 740, 742, 516 N.Y.S.2d 959).