Nader v. General Motors Corp.

Nader v. General Motors Corp. case brief summary
255 N.E.2d 765 (N.Y. 1970)

CASE SYNOPSIS

Appeal from Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the First Judicial Department (New York), which denied appellants' motion to dismiss respondent's claim for invasion of privacy.

CASE FACTS
Appellants sought review of appellate court's order denying appellants' motion to dismiss in respondent's action for invasion of privacy. Respondent alleged appellants engaged in harassing conduct with intent of preventing respondent from publishing his book, which criticized appellants' safety and design of automobiles.

DISCUSSION

• Court affirmed and determined that under law of District of Columbia, respondent had set out a claim for invasion of privacy. 
• Court found District of Columbia intended to protect individuals from others who would unreasonably intrude into the personal affairs of others and disclose confidential information about the individual. 
• There was no invasion of privacy claim set out where respondent alleged appellants asked friends of respondent personal information about respondent. 
• Claim for invasion of privacy was set out where appellants wiretapped respondent's conversations.

CONCLUSION

Court affirmed appellate court's decision, finding under District of Columbia law respondent sufficiently set out invasion of privacy claim where respondent alleged an unreasonable intrusion by appellants into confidential matters of respondent.

Suggested Study Aids For Tort Law