Paul, Weiss Defeats Defamation Case in Win for Jeff Bezos

Paul, Weiss achieved a significant victory for Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos and investigator Gavin de Becker when the California Supreme Court denied a petition to review the California Court of Appeals’ dismissal of a defamation case brought against them by Michael Sanchez.

The case arose when Mr. Sanchez filed a defamation claim against our clients, alleging they falsely told reporters that he had provided intimate photographs of Mr. Bezos to the National Enquirer.

The trial court granted our motion to strike the complaint under the state’s anti-SLAPP statute, finding that the statements from reporters in the plaintiff’s declaration were inadmissible hearsay. The California Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s order, rejecting the plaintiff’s claims that the reporters’ comments were not offered for the truth of the matter they asserted and, therefore, were not hearsay, and rejecting his claim that the reporters’ statements could be “cured” if the reporters testified under oath at trial or in a deposition and, therefore, be considered for anti-SLAPP purposes.

Mr. Sanchez petitioned the California Supreme Court for review. On September 28, the California Supreme Court denied review.

The Paul, Weiss team included, among others, litigation partners William Isaacson and Meredith Dearborn.