Dennis Deangelis, Plaintiff-Respondent v. James F. Hill, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the lower courts and remanded for dismissal of the plaintiff's defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims, holding that the plaintiff, a public official, failed to prove actual malice by clear and convincing evidence. The Court emphasized that hostility or ill will alone does not satisfy the actual malice requirement.