Per Curiam.
The complaint should not have been dismissed as against these defendants-respondents. Their communications were protected by a qualified privilege but plaintiff’s proof made out a prima facie case of malice. (Ashcroft v. Hammond, 197 N. Y. 488.) The question was for the jury.
The judgments should be reversed and a new trial granted with costs to abide the event.
Lehman, Ch. J., Loughran, Finch, Rippey, Lewis, Conway and Desmond, JJ., concur.
Judgments reversed, etc.