The action was properly dismissed on the ground that the tortious conduct alleged involved the petitioning of a governmental agency that is immune from suit under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. "Although the Noerr-Pennington doctrine initially arose in the antitrust field, the courts have expanded it to protect First Amendment petitioning of the government from claims brought under Federal and State law, including claims asserted pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and common-law tortious interference with contractual relations." (Alfred Weissman Real Estate v. Big v. Supermarkets, 268 A.D.2d 101, 107). Nor can defendants' efforts on behalf of their client, ultimately successful as they were, be considered a sham (see, id., at 110).
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.