Honorable John A. Lynch, Jr., New Jersey State Senator, Plaintiff-Appellant v. New Jersey Education Association…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the Appellate Division’s grant of summary judgment for all defendants except Brendel and Barry Brendel Associates, whose summary judgments were reversed and remanded for further consideration. The Court held that the alleged campaign statements were either non‑defamatory opinion, hyperbole, or not published with actual malice, except where Brendel’s knowledge created a genuine issue of fact.