New Jersey man was called a drug dealer and barred from school sporting events, but filed defamation lawsuit too late

New Jersey Supreme Court rules false light lawsuits must meet same tight deadline as defamation claims

Trenton, NJ – Wednesday — A man accused of dealing drugs to high school students waited too long to sue the person who made the claim, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, cementing that false light privacy cases must follow the same strict one-year filing deadline as defamation lawsuits.

Salve Chipola had sued Sean Flannery nearly two years after Flannery told a school official that Chipola was a drug dealer who provided students with drugs and alcohol. The accusation led to Chipola being banned from Clearview Regional High School after a police officer blocked his entry and handed him a letter barring him from the premises. Chipola claimed the statements were false and damage