Following an arrest in January of 2014 for her alleged involvement in a cocaine and prostitution ring, New Jersey woman Janice Lee brought libel claims against multiple new outlets, including TMZ Productions and The New York Daily News. A federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday that the claims are shielded by the fair-report privilege. Though Lee’s charges were later dropped, the decision reasserts that the press is allowed to report on arrests and indictments without worry of being sued if the charges are later dismissed.
