The state Appellate Court has upheld a judge’s award of more than $52,000 to the former girlfriend of one of the state’s best-known missing persons. Madeline Gleason had claimed the missing man’s family harassed and defamed her while accusing her of being involved in his disappearance.
Meanwhile, a lawyer for the family of Billy Smolinski said he will petition the state Supreme Court to take a look at the case. The family believes the trial court and Appellate Court rulings could launch a disturbing national trend in which families of crime victims get sued for seeking justice.
