Summary judgment granted where no evidence linked moving parties to alleged defamatory publication.
The moving defendants brought summary judgment motions seeking dismissal of defamation actions arising from an internal investigative firm newsletter describing an investigation into alleged unauthorized retransmission of satellite television signals in apartment buildings.
The plaintiffs alleged the article defamed them and that the moving defendants conspired with the investigation firm to publish it.
The court found no evidence linking the moving defendants to the creation or publication of the article and held that the record did not support conspiracy or vicarious liability.
The court also rejected arguments that unanswered questions on cross‑examination created adverse inferences.
Summary judgment was granted dismissing the actions against the moving defendants, with costs awarded.
