A New York judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Morgan Carey against his sister, Mariah Carey, regarding claims made in her 2020 memoir.
Key facts
- •The lawsuit was originally filed by Morgan Carey on May 28, 2021.
- •Justice Leslie A. Stroth presided over the case in the New York State Supreme Court.
- •The plaintiff claimed damages exceeding $20 million due to the memoir's content.
- •The court ruled that the plaintiff failed to sufficiently plead actual malice.
- •Morgan Carey’s legal team has announced their intention to appeal the decision.
A New York State Supreme Court justice dismissed a $20 million defamation lawsuit brought by Morgan Carey against his sister, singer Mariah Carey, on Monday. Justice Leslie A. Stroth ruled that Morgan Carey failed to prove that the singer acted with "actual malice" when writing her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. The lawsuit, which was originally filed in May 2021, alleged that the book damaged Morgan Carey’s reputation by portraying him as violent and accusing him of drug trafficking.
Court Ruling on Actual Malice
In her ruling, Justice Stroth determined that the plaintiff did not meet the legal requirements to prove actual malice under New York’s anti-SLAPP law. The court found that Morgan Carey provided no evidence that the singer made statements in her memoir with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. While the plaintiff argued that his sister harbored ill will toward him, the judge stated that such allegations were insufficient to satisfy the pleading requirement for actual malice.
Background of the Legal Dispute
Morgan Carey’s lawsuit centered on specific passages in the memoir, including descriptions of him as violent, claims that he trafficked cocaine, and characterizations of his childhood behavior. He alleged that his sister prioritized the book's commercial success over verifying the accuracy of her claims, which he suggested relied on their late mother as a source. The plaintiff had sought damages he believed to exceed $20 million.
Legal Responses and Future Intentions
Mariah Carey’s attorney, John Rosenberg, stated that the singer is gratified by the court’s decision, noting that the ruling confirms authors should have broad protection when discussing matters of public interest. Conversely, Morgan Carey’s lawyer, Richard Altman, expressed disagreement with the court's decision, characterizing it as inconsistent with prior rulings in the case, and confirmed plans to appeal.
Timeline
- 2020Mariah Carey published her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.
- May 28, 2021Morgan Carey filed his defamation lawsuit against his sister.
- MondayJustice Leslie A. Stroth dismissed the lawsuit.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone.
