Opinion ID: 1969001
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Slander Award

Text: The jury returned a verdict against plaintiff Michael Wood for $1000 in actual damages and $20,000 in punitive damages for slander. He contends there is insufficient evidence to support the award. To recover general damages in an action for slander, a party must show some actual harm. Solomon v. Atlantis Dev., Inc., 147 Vt. 349, 359, 516 A.2d 132, 138 (1986); Lent v. Huntoon, 143 Vt. 539, 549, 470 A.2d 1162, 1170 (1983). In this case, defendant had the burden of producing credible evidence of actual injury caused by Michael Wood's alleged slander. See Crump v. P & C Food Markets, Inc., 154 Vt. 284, 295, 576 A.2d 441, 448 (1990). In Crump we held that evidence of sleeping problems, loss of appetite, development of a temporary drinking problem, and deteriorating family relationships demonstrated actual harm. Id. We have also recognized that proof of embarrassment and temporary injury to reputation would be sufficient to support an award of general damages. Solomon, 147 Vt. at 359, 516 A.2d at 138. Defendant in this case adduced no credible evidence of actual harm. The only mention of harm comes from defendant's deposition where he stated that he was 100 percent sure [he had] lost a lot of customers and his assertion at trial that his reputation had been injured and that he had lost sales. Defendant produced no evidence, however, to substantiate the claim. Indeed, defendant further stated that his demand for pork exceeded his supply and that his customers praised his pork despite plaintiff's alleged slanderous remarks. This statement confirms that no injury to reputation occurred. The slander award must therefore be reversed.