Blank Rome won the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a bridal retailer against Brides of Long Island, an online community providing resources for Long Island brides during the wedding planning process, and its founder, Heather Cunningham. The case was heard in the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County.
The plaintiff claimed that the defendants' Facebook group steered brides away from certain vendors. It asserted claims for deceptive business practices, censorship, and unjust enrichment, and sought a permanent injunction over content posted about its business. In a decision issued September 28, 2026, the Court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss, including under New York's anti-SLAPP law. The Court found that the lawsuit involved communications in a public forum on an issue of public interest. It recognized that Facebook qualifies as a public forum and that business reviews are an issue of public interest. The Court held that the plaintiff failed to show its claims had a substantial basis in law. The Court noted that a defendant who secures a dismissal under the anti-SLAPP law “shall” recover its attorneys’ fees and costs and set a court conference to further address the issue.
The decision reinforces the strength of New York's anti-SLAPP protections for online reviews and consumer commentary.
The Blank Rome team included Craig Weiner, Reena Jain, and Alexander D. Newman.