Libel Suit by "King of Vape" Against N.Y. Post, Over Allegations of Misconduct and Anti-Israel Actions, Thrown Out but May Be Refiled
A libel suit filed by the "King of Vape" against the N.Y. Post was dismissed, but the plaintiff may refile after addressing issues with alleging actual malice and damages.Summary
A libel suit brought by Shriteh, known as the "King of Vape," against the New York Post was dismissed by Judge Chappell, but with the possibility of being refiled. The suit stemmed from an article alleging misconduct, illicit vape sales, and anti-Israel advocacy. The court found that Shriteh hadn't adequately demonstrated “actual malice” – knowing or reckless falsehood – required for a public figure to win a libel case, nor had he sufficiently proven damages. While the court rejected most of the Post’s arguments regarding the truthfulness of the statements, it found issues with the plaintiff’s claims regarding co-founding Safa Goods and the connection to illicit vape sales. The article referenced a 1991 Israeli court finding that Shriteh aided Hamas while working as a journalist, and a relative’s past employment with UNRWA, which had employees involved in the October 7th attack. The court found the reporting on the Israeli court finding potentially unfair without a transcript and accurate translation, and the UNRWA connection was not directly linked to Shriteh.
(Source：Reason Magazine)
