G.D., Plaintiff-Appellant v. Bernard Kenny and the Hudson County Democratic Organization, Inc…

Summary

The New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed the Appellate Division’s summary‑judgment dismissal of G.D.’s defamation, false‑light, invasion‑of‑privacy, emotional‑distress, misappropriation and civil‑conspiracy claims. The Court held that an expunged criminal conviction remains a true fact for purposes of the truth defense, that the campaign flyers were substantially accurate, and that no reasonable expectation of privacy exists in information long in the public domain. Accordingly, truth is a complete defense and the privacy tort claims fail.