Mariah Carey Wins Dismissal of Brother's Defamation Lawsuit
A New York judge ruled Morgan Carey failed to prove "actual malice" in his claims against the singer over her 2020 memoir.
Mariah Carey has secured a legal victory as a judge dismissed a $20 million defamation lawsuit filed by her brother, Morgan Carey. The lawsuit stemmed from allegations made in Mariah Carey's 2020 memoir, "The Meaning of Mariah Carey." A ruling from New York State Supreme Court Judge Leslie A. Stroth stated that Morgan Carey failed to prove the singer acted with "actual malice" by knowingly publishing falsehoods.
Morgan Carey's lawsuit cited passages in the memoir where the singer alleged her sibling had previously served prison time and was involved in selling cocaine. One passage mentioned by Morgan described him as having "discreetly supplied the beautiful people with their powdered party favors." Morgan Carey denied these claims.
Judge Stroth's ruling indicated that Morgan Carey had not sufficiently pleaded actual malice by the singer, citing New York's anti-SLAPP laws. The judge found that claims of Mariah Carey being more concerned with the memoir's commercial viability than its factual accuracy did not meet the legal standard required.
Furthermore, the judge ruled that Morgan Carey was unable to prove that the statements were based on anonymous or unverifiable sources, or that the singer made them with knowledge of their falsity or reckless disregard for the truth. Based on these shortcomings, the case was fully dismissed.
Mariah Carey's lawyer, John Rosenberg, stated that the singer is gratified by the court's decision, which recognized that her memoir addressed significant issues of public interest. Rosenberg added that the singer believes the decision provides broad protection for authors speaking on matters of public concern.
Richard Altman, the attorney representing Morgan Carey, indicated that they respectfully disagree with the dismissal and are likely to appeal, finding the decision inconsistent with prior rulings in the case.
Morgan Carey initially filed his lawsuit in 2021, referencing eight sections of the memoir he claimed were defamatory. An earlier judge, Barbara Jaffe, had dismissed 14 of the 16 claims in 2022, allowing Morgan to proceed only on passages concerning narcotics and incarceration. The case was reassigned to Judge Stroth after Judge Jaffe retired.
Morgan Carey, who has a background in fitness, has been largely estranged from his sister since a dispute in 1994. This legal action follows a period of family tragedy, with Mariah Carey's mother, Patricia, and sister, Alison, both passing away on August 24, 2024.