Opinion
February 27, 1996
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (William Davis, J.).
Defendant-respondent is a clinical social worker, certified in New York, who was contacted by co-defendant, plaintiff Howard Baruch's former wife, to analyze and render an opinion with respect to an alleged sleeping disorder and possible sexual abuse of the daughter of the parties to a then pending New Jersey divorce action. A qualified privilege attached to the reports prepared by the social worker, notwithstanding publication of the reports to the defendant's attorney in the divorce action, who had a corresponding interest in the matter ( see, Stukuls v. State of New York, 42 N.Y.2d 272, 278-279; Dunajewski v Bellmore-Merrick Cent. High School Dist., 138 A.D.2d 557). Plaintiffs have failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to the existence of either constitutional or common-law malice which would overcome the cloak of protection afforded to the qualifiedly privileged communications ( see, Liberman v Gelstein, 80 N.Y.2d 429, 437-439). Also lacking in the opposition to defendant's motion for summary judgment was any evidence tending to demonstrate that defendant breached any standard of professionalism or duty of care owed to plaintiffs in preparing or publishing the reports. Accordingly, plaintiffs' claims for malpractice and negligence also were properly dismissed ( see, Roth v. Tuckman, 162 A.D.2d 941, lv denied 76 N.Y.2d 712).
Concur — Murphy, P.J., Ross, Tom and Mazzarelli, JJ.