Bruce S. Rosen Mentioned in New Jersey Law Journal for Representing CNBC in Dismissed Defamation Lawsuit

Bruce S. Rosen, a partner at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., was recently mentioned in a New Jersey Law Journal article titled, “Nikola Founder Could Face Opposing Fees for Time-Barred Defamation Suit, Appellate Division Says.” The article discusses how the New Jersey Appellate Division dismissed Trevor Milton’s lawsuit against CNBC and Hindenburg Research, ruling that Milton’s claims were time-barred under the one-year statute of limitations for defamation and could not be reframed as trade libel. The court also held that defendants CNBC and Hindenburg Research are entitled to attorney fees under the state’s anti-SLAPP law, finding Milton’s allegations focused on personal reputation rather than harm to a business or product. CNBC is represented by Bruce S. Rosen and CJ Griffin.

On Tuesday, Appellate Division Judges Robert J. Gilson, Lisa Perez Friscia and Robert M. Vinci agreed that the complaint should both be dismissed with prejudice and that the defendants were entitled to attorney fees from Milton under New Jersey’s Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA), an anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation law passed in 2023.

“While it is true claims of defamation and trade libel can sometimes overlap and merge when the same disparaging statements cause harm to a person’s personal reputation and the person’s business or product, this is not such a case,” the Appellate Division wrote.

To read the full article in the New Jersey Law Journal, click here.

The case also received attention in Law360, which can be viewed here.