Jerry Seinfeld Wins Libel Suit Brought by Cookbook Author: Calling Her a 'Wacko' Wasn't Defamatory
An author who previously lost a lawsuit alleging that Jerry Seinfeld’s wife copied her cookbook for kids has now lost a defamation suit against the famous television actor and comedian himself.
Missy Chase Lapine had contended she was entitled to damages because Seinfeld implied she was off her rocker during an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.
However, Seinfeld’s comments, which were made as part of a humorous exchange with Letterman in which he didn’t identify Lapine by name, clearly weren’t intended to be taken literally as factual statements, a New York state judge held today, the New York Post reports.
Instead, Seinfeld statements that she was a “wacko” and that “if you read history, many of the three-named people do become assassins” were the comedian’s opinions and hence not actionable, ruled Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Marcy Friedman.
A Bloomberg article provides additional details.
Updated at 3:35 p.m. to link to Bloomberg article.
