Opinion ID: 1654169
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: loss of earning capacity and damage to reputation

Text: The Court of Appeal found that there was an absence of factual support for Plaintiff's claims for loss of earning capacity and damage to his reputation. Since the Plaintiff would have the burden of proving these issues at trial, the Court of Appeal held that plaintiff has failed to sustain his summary judgment burden on this issue. King, 716 So.2d 104, 108. A claim for damage to reputation falls under an action for defamation. An action in defamation requires proof of: (1) a false and defamatory statement concerning another; (2) an unprivileged publication to a third party; (3) fault (negligence or greater) on the part of the publisher; and (4) resulting injury. Trentecosta v. Beck, 96-2388 (La.10/21/97), 703 So.2d 552, 559. Plaintiff has not produced factual support of these requisite elements. Further, loss of earning capacity is an element of damages recoverable in action for employment discrimination. Since the action for employment discrimination cannot be maintained for the individual defendants, plaintiff cannot recover damages for loss of earning capacity. Therefore, the Court of Appeal's decision dismissing these claims against the individual defendants on summary judgment is affirmed.