Sidis v. F-R Publishing Corp. case brief

Sidis v. F-R Publishing Corp. case brief summary
113 F.2d 806 (2d Cir. 1940)

CASE SYNOPSIS

Plaintiff, a former child prodigy, sought review from an order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, granting defendant magazine's motion to dismiss plaintiff's first two causes of action, which alleged violation of plaintiff's right to privacy and violation of N.Y. Civ. Rights Law §§ 50 and 51.

CASE FACTS
Plaintiff was the subject of a biographical sketch in a weekly magazine published by defendant. Plaintiff contended that the article violated his right to privacy, and was in violation of N.Y. Civ. Rights Law §§ 50 and 51.

DISCUSSION

• The court held that although the article was a ruthless exposure of a once public person, who since sought and has now been deprived of the seclusion of private life, because great deeds had been expected of plaintiff, his subsequent history, containing the answer to the question whether he had fulfilled his early promise, remained a matter of public concern and possessed considerable popular news interest. 
• Additionally, the court held that the advertisement in the forthcoming issue of the magazine was not a basis of recovery under N.Y. Civ. Rights Law §§50 and 51 because the magazine article itself was unobjectionable.

CONCLUSION

The court affirmed the order.

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