Opinion ID: 2671306
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Count 3—Defamation

Text: ¶ 61. As to count 3, defamation, the court considered the six required elements: The general elements of a private action for defamation (libel and/or slander) are: (1) a false and defamatory statement concerning another; (2) some negligence, or greater fault, in publishing the statement; (3) publication to at least one third person; (4) lack of privilege in the publication; (5) special damages, unless actionable per se; and (6) some actual harm so as to warrant compensatory damages. Lent v. Huntoon , 143 Vt. 539, 546-47, 470 A.2d 1162, 1168 (1983) (footnote omitted). Noting that truth is a complete defense to defamation, the court concluded that plaintiff had presented nothing more than mere allegations to support her view that there was a dispute of fact as to the veracity of the Town’s statements in the July 1, 2010 letter. The court also concluded that plaintiff had failed to support by affidavit or otherwise her contention that the defaming comments caused her damage. Therefore, the court granted summary judgment to the Town. ¶ 62. The court’s decision is wholly based on plaintiff’s failure to follow the procedural requirements of Rule 56. For the reasons explained above, it was error for the court to grant the Town summary judgment on this basis alone, given the Town’s own failure to comply with the rule and the substantial evidence in the record. The Town did not delineate in its statement of undisputed facts or support with citation to the record that plaintiff agreed the statements in the July 1, 2010 letter were true or that plaintiff was unharmed by any defaming comments. Further, although on appeal the Town claims that several privileges provide a complete defense to this claim, the Town’s statement of fact does not establish the necessary facts to support the asserted privileges. ¶ 63. In addition, it is evident from a review of the record that plaintiff disputes the veracity of the statements in the July 1, 2010 letter, and that she contends that the defaming comments caused her damage. For example, in plaintiff’s July 2010 affidavit, which was submitted along with her original complaint and request for injunctive relief, plaintiff averred that the July 1 letter made “unsubstantiated and false accusations.” Therefore, important facts remained disputed, and the court’s order granting summary judgment on this count is reversed.