Opinion ID: 2071088
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mead Corporation

Text: [¶ 5] Cole's only claim against Mead is for forced publication of libel and slander. The elements of defamation are as follows: (a) a false and defamatory statement concerning another; (b) an unprivileged publication to a third party; (c) fault amounting at least to negligence on the part of the publisher; and (d) either actionability of the statement irrespective of special harm or the existence of special harm caused by the publication. See Lester v. Powers, 596 A.2d 65, 69 (Me.1991) (citing RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 558 (1977)). Cole does not allege that Mead communicated the reason for its termination of Cole to any third party and thus the allegedly defamatory statement was not published by Mead. Rather, Cole argues that he himself was forced to publish or communicate the reasons for his termination to prospective employers and that this should satisfy the publication element of the tort of defamation. We need not reach the issue of compelled self-publication, however, because a claim of defamation also requires that the publication be unprivileged, see id., and we find that Mead, in any event, was protected by a conditional privilege under common law. [¶ 6] Whether Mead is entitled to the common law privilege is a question of law. See Rippett v. Bemis, 672 A.2d 82, 87 (Me.1996). A conditional privilege against liability for defamation arises in settings where society has an interest in promoting free, but not absolutely unfettered, speech. Lester v. Powers, 596 A.2d 65, 69 (Me.1991) (citations omitted). It may arise in any situation in which an important interest of the recipient of a defamatory statement will be advanced by frank communication. Rippett v. Bemis, 672 A.2d 82, 87 (Me.1996) (citing Lester v. Powers, 596 A.2d at 70). In Lester, we held that a former student was entitled to a conditional privilege against libel for her letter to a college, as part of a professor's tenure review process, stating her version of the professor's conduct during a particular class. See Lester v. Powers, 596 A.2d at 70. In Gautschi v. Maisel, 565 A.2d 1009 (Me.1989), we held that a faculty member enjoyed a conditional privilege against a claim of slander while serving on a tenure review committee and engaged in reviewing another employee's credentials to determine whether that employee should be granted permanent employment. See id. at 1011. Similarly, Mead was entitled to a conditional privilege in this case against a claim of slander brought by one of its employees arising out of the termination of his employment relationship with Mead. [¶ 7] Cole argues next that, even if Mead is entitled to a conditional privilege, he has raised a genuine issue of material fact whether Mead has abused its privilege. The common law conditional privilege applies unless the originator of the statement abused the privilege. See Gautschi v. Maisel, 565 A.2d 1009, 1011 (Me.1989). Whether the defendant abused his privilege is a question of fact. See Rippett v. Bemis, 672 A.2d 82, 87 (Me. 1996). Once it is determined that the defendant is entitled to the privilege, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to come forward with evidence that could go to a jury that [the defendant] abused the privilege. Gautschi, 565 A.2d at 1011. Abuse includes making the statement outside normal channels or with malicious intent. See id. (citing Saunders v. VanPelt, 497 A.2d 1121, 1125 (Me.1985); Greenya v. George Washington Univ., 512 F.2d 556, 563 (D.C.Cir.1975); RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 599 cmt. a (1977)). For purposes of defamation claims, malice means when the originator of the statement knows his statement to be false, recklessly disregards its truth or falsity, or acts with spite or ill will. See Rippett v. Bemis, 672 A.2d 82, 87 (Me.1996) (citing Lester v. Powers, 596 A.2d 65, 69 & n. 7 (Me.1991)); see also Lester, 596 A.2d at 69 & n. 7 (actual malice is a term of art which means knowledge or disregard of falsity). Reckless disregard for the truth can be proved by evidence that establishes that the maker of a statement had `a high degree of awareness of probable falsity or serious doubt as to the truth of the statement.' Rippett, 672 A.2d at 87 (quoting Onat v. Penobscot Bay Med. Ctr., 574 A.2d 872, 874 (Me.1990)). [¶ 8] Cole argues that Mead abused its discretion because Buckley's and Chandler's statements were false, because Buckley and Chandler did not follow proper company procedure for reporting a harassment claim, and because Mead did not thoroughly investigate the claim before terminating him. Cole, however, does not deny that, even if the additional investigation had been conducted, it would not have rebutted any of the allegations made by his subordinates. Further, he concedes that Chandler's statements that he told the joke and that he made a comment about sharing rooms if the spouses did not mind were true, and only argues that Chandler was not offended and that he did not believe the comment about sharing rooms had sexual overtones or referred to any specific individuals. Therefore, even if Cole raises an issue of fact as to whether Mead thoroughly investigated, he failed to show a reckless disregard for the truth. He did not establish a high degree of awareness of probable falsity or serious doubt as to the truth of the statement. See Rippett v. Bemis, 672 A.2d 82, 87 (Me.1996) (citation omitted); see also RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 580B cmt. i (1977) (defamation of private person citing § 580A cmt. d for knowledge or reckless disregard of falsity); § 580A cmt. d (1977) (stating that [r]eckless disregard is held not to be measured by whether a reasonable, prudent person would have published the statement without more investigation.); Duffy v. Leading Edge Products, Inc., 44 F.3d 308, 315 (5th Cir. 1995) (noting that an inadequate investigation by itself was clearly not sufficient to show actual malice). Nor did he show spite or ill will. Even when the facts are viewed in the light most favorable to him, they do not present a genuine issue of material fact whether Mead abused the privilege. Therefore, we find that the court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Mead on the basis that Mead enjoyed a conditional privilege and did not abuse that privilege.