Opinion ID: 2547502
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Oman's Claims of Alleged Defamation Fail

Text: ¶ 64 In his reply brief on appeal, Oman refers to six incidents of alleged defamation. These include: (1) comments made by May and acquiesced to by Swain at the June 27 meeting, (2) comments made by Payne during a June 2003 meeting between Payne and Thurgood, (3) May's March 21 report sent to the Layton Police Department, (4) May's June 28 follow-up report sent to the Layton Police Department, (5) the March 11 termination letter, and (6) Webster's reports of Oman's alleged misconduct made to District personnel. We address these incidents in turn and conclude that each claim fails. ¶ 65 We first address the incident that Oman refers to as the most obvious incident of defamation: the statements made by May during the June 27 meeting with District maintenance workers. Because we have concluded that the district court properly struck from Oman's affidavit the paragraphs discussing this incident, we likewise affirm the district court's conclusion that striking the paragraphs leaves Oman with no evidentiary basis for the defamation claim. ¶ 66 We next dispose of Oman's alleged defamation relating to the June 2003 meeting between Payne and Thurgood and the March 21 report prepared by May. Oman did not refer to these incidents in his pleadings in the district court, and he is therefore barred from raising them for the first time on appeal. See State v. Labrum, 925 P.2d 937, 939 (Utah 1996) (Issues not raised before the trial court are usually waived and cannot be raised on appeal.). ¶ 67 With regard to Oman's remaining three incidents of alleged defamation, the district court did not specifically discuss them in its order granting summary judgment. Nevertheless, we conclude that Oman has failed to present evidence to support them. ¶ 68 Defamation is the act of harming the reputation of another by making a false statement to a third person. Jensen v. Sawyers, 2005 UT 81, ¶ 35, 130 P.3d 325. To establish a claim for defamation, a plaintiff must demonstrate that (1) the defendant published the statements [in print or orally]; (2) the statements were false; (3) the statements were not subject to privilege; (4) the statements were published with the requisite degree of fault; and (5) the statements resulted in damages. DeBry v. Godbe, 1999 UT 111, ¶ 8, 992 P.2d 979. ¶ 69 Oman clearly failed to demonstrate these elements in his pleadings to the district court. In his motion opposing summary judgment, Oman made generalized allegations that defamatory statements were made in certain instances and in certain documents. However, Oman failed to identify the specific statements made during the instances or contained in the documents that were defamatory. He also failed to demonstrate that any such statements were false, not subject to privilege, and negligently published by defendants. See Wayment, 2005 UT 25, ¶ 32 n. 13, 116 P.3d 271 ([A] defamation plaintiff who is not a public figure must. . . establish negligence on the part of the defendant.). Additionally, Oman failed to show how the statements resulted in damages. ¶ 70 For example, the extent of Oman's discussion regarding May's June 28 report to the Layton Police Department is one sentence: May's written report of June 28, 2002 . . . which was plainly shared with the School District, clearly paints Mr. Oman as a felonhis vehicle being searched, its contents itemized, etc. The report detailed the procedures the District had taken in giving Oman a notice of suspension and confiscating his office and vehicle keys and related the results of the subsequent search of Oman's District vehicle. The only parts of the report that Oman identifies as being defamatory his vehicle being searched and its contents itemizedare facts that did occur. Oman does not show that these facts are false or that they were negligently included in the report by May. Oman cites no other specific parts of the report that are allegedly defamatory. Additionally, he fails to show how the report, which was sent to police the day after the District suspended Oman's employment, caused Oman any damage. ¶ 71 Even on appeal, Oman fails to properly support his defamation claim. Because Oman failed to properly plead and support the alleged incidents of defamation, we conclude that the district court properly dismissed his defamation claim. We therefore affirm the district court's grant of summary judgment to the District Employees on Oman's defamation claim.