Solaia Technology, LLC v. Specialty Publishing Company, et al.

The plaintiffs, Solaia Technology, LLC (Solaia Technology), the law firm of Niro, Scavone, Haller, & Niro, Ltd. (NSHN), and Raymond Niro, filed a defamation complaint against the defendants, Specialty Publishing Company, Peggy Smedley, John Buell, and John Doe. The circuit court of Cook County dismissed the complaint; the appellate court affirmed in part and reversed in part (357 Ill. App. 3d 1).

The central issue in this case is whether the so-called fair report privilege defeats the plaintiffs' allegations that the defendants made false statements with actual malice. The defendants argue it does; the plaintiffs argue it does not. The plaintiffs also request cross-relief, asserting that the appellate court erred in holding various statements made by the defendants were not defamatory. For the reasons that follow, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

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