Defamation

By:  Jeffrey M. Haber In today’s article, we examine defamation per se under New York law, which allows recovery for defamation without proving special damages when the alleged statement falls into four categories: accusing someone of a serious crime, harming their trade or profession, imputing a loathsome disease, or alleging unchastity. In Couteller v. Mamakos , 2025 N.Y. Slip Op. 06965 (1st Dept. Dec. 16, 2025), a building superintendent sued a resident for falsely accusin