New York Blogger Sued for Protected Speech

In September of 2008, New York attorney Marina Tylo filed a lawsuit against blogger Andrew Lavoott Bluestone of the New York Attorney Malpractice Blog, seeking $10,000,000 in damages for libel, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and tortious interference with prospective contractual relations. Tylo’s lawsuit arose out of a neutral statement on Bluestone’s blog stating only – and truthfully – that Tylo had been sued for malpractice.

New York Civil Rights Law provides that speakers cannot be held liable for giving a “fair and true report of any judicial proceeding, legislative proceeding or other official proceeding,” which commentators believe encompassed Lavoott’s statement. In November of 2008, Tylo voluntarily discontinued the lawsuit. 

See Tylo v. Bluestone, 24690/2008.