Case Name: Alan Green, Appellant, v. Combined Life Insurance Co. of New York et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2010-01-28
Citations: 69 A.D.3d 531
Docket Number: 
Parties: Alan Green, Appellant, v Combined Life Insurance Co. of New York et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 69
Pages: 531–531

Head Matter:
Alan Green, Appellant, v Combined Life Insurance Co. of New York et al., Respondents.
[892 NYS2d 760]

Opinion:
Plaintiff alleges he was defamed by defendant Downie's written report to the insurer defendants of his interview with and examination of plaintiff. Even if defamatory, the statements are protected by a qualified privilege because they were made in a medical report to the insurer (see Gould v Broad, 22 AD2d 800 [1964], affd 16 NY2d 666 [1965]). Plaintiffs conclusory allegations of malice are insufficient to overcome the privilege (see Ferguson v Sherman Sq. Realty Corp., 30 AD3d 288 [2006]). Concur—Andrias, J.P., McGuire, Moskowitz, Freedman and Román, JJ.