
Joel N. Kreizman
Partner
732-568-8363 jkreizman@sh-law.comFirm News
Author: Joel N. Kreizman
Date: June 12, 2015
Partner
732-568-8363 jkreizman@sh-law.comThe Supreme Court of New Jersey recently held that plaintiffs in a defamation suit couldn’t recover both actual and presumed damages. The case is NuWave Investment Corp. v. Hyman Beck & Co.
Plaintiffs Troy Buckner and John Ryan, who served as principles of NuWave Investment Corporation (NuWave) filed a New Jersey defamation suit against First Advantage Litigation Consulting, LLC, formerly BackTrack Reports, Inc. (BackTrack), regarding the content of background investigative reports prepared for clients considering investment opportunities. The reports on Buckner, Ryan and NuWave included many statements attributed to Hyman Beck & Company (Hyman Beck) and its employees, Alexander Hyman and Richard DeFalco, all of whom were also named as defendants in the suit.
The plaintiffs’ initial complaint asserted various causes of action, including trade libel and defamation, against all defendants. Summary judgment proceedings and dismissals left only the defamation claim against BackTrack for trial. The jury found BackTrack liable and awarded the following amounts as “presumed damages”: $1 million (NuWave), $150,000 (Buckner); $50,000 (Ryan). The jury further determined that NuWave suffered $1.406 million in “actual damages” as a proximate result of BackTrack’s defamatory statements, but neither Buckner nor Ryan suffered actual damages.
>On appeal, the Appellate Division agreed with the trial court that the challenged statements were largely defamatory, but determined that a jury cannot award both presumed nominal damages and other “actual damages.” Its decision largely relied on W.J.A. v. D.A., 210 N.J. 229 (2012), a decision entered while the appeal was pending in which the New Jersey Supreme Court confirmed the limited role of presumed damages.
The New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the Appellate Division’s decision. As explained by the court, “Presumed damages is a procedural device that allows a defamation case to go to the jury in the absence of proof of actual damages. If the jury finds the statement defamatory, without proof of actual damages, only nominal damages can be awarded. Presumed damages may not be awarded in any higher amount.
In reaching its decision, the court clarified the distinctions between actual, punitive, and nominal damages with regard to defamation suits. As explained by the panel:
Actual damages can include harm caused by “impairment to reputation and standing in the community,” along with personal humiliation, mental anguish, and suffering to the extent that they flow from the reputational injury. All compensatory damages, whether considered special or general, depend on showings of actual harm, demonstrated through competent evidence, and may not include a damage award presumed by the jury. By way of contrast, “nominal” damages, including those that may be presumed, are not to be awarded as compensation and are not appropriate when compensatory damages are otherwise available to the plaintiff.
Because the court deemed it was “unclear whether the entirety of the jury award was influenced by the inadequate instruction on the proper roles of the various categories of damages and the circumstances under which they are available to plaintiffs,” it remanded the case for a new trial on damages.
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
FeedSpot Recognizes Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law Blog One of the Top 20 Public Law Blogs Little Falls, NJ – May 22, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC is honored to share that Managing Partner Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law blog has been listed by FeedSpot.com as one of the “20 Best Public Law Blogs and […]
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
SH Partner and 100th Bomb Group Foundation Legal Counsel Discussed The Nuremberg Trials and the Law May 21, 2025 – Little Falls, NJ – Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC is proud to share that partner Ronald S. “Ron” Bienstock recently spoke at the 100th Bomb Group Biennial Reunion, held May 15-18, 2025, in New Orleans. The […]
Author: Ronald S. Bienstock
Little Falls, NJ – May 1, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC is proud to share that Managing Partner Donald Scarinci’s Constitutional Law Reporter blog has been listed by FeedSpot.com as one of the “Top 100 Legal Blogs.” No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Feedspot, a content reader that curates websites of […]
Author: Donald Scarinci
Little Falls, NJ – May 1, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC is proud to share that Managing Partner Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law blog has been listed by FeedSpot.com as one of the “80 Best New Jersey Blogs and Websites in 2025.” *No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New […]
Author: Donald Scarinci
Scarinci Hollenbeck Partner Nathanya G. Simon named by ROI-NJ to the “ROI Influencers: Women in Business” list for fourth consecutive year Scarinci Hollenbeck Partner Nathanya G. Simon has been named by ROI-NJ to the “ROI Influencers: Women in Business” list for 2025. After four decades of practice, Nathanya’s pioneering influence in the field of special […]
Author: Nathanya G. Simon
Congratulations Angela Turiano on appointment as Director of Legislative Affairs for SHRM Princeton April 17, 2025 – Little Falls, NJ – Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC congratulates Partner Angela Turiano on her appointment as Director of Legislative Affairs for SHRM Princeton. Along with serving as a member of SHRM Princeton’s leadership team, Angela will monitor pending legislative, regulatory, […]
Author: Angela A. Turiano
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
Let`s get in touch!
Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!