Opinion ID: 1943659
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dobbs' Ill Will

Text: In addition to his argument about the manner of the investigation, Bahr also argues that the record supports a finding of actual malice against Boise because ill will of his supervisor, Eural Dobbs, can be imputed to Boise. Dobbs is a management-level employee at Boise. We have decided that, for purposes of showing actual malice by a corporation, the corporation is liable for the acts of its employees, under the rule of respondeat superior. Friedell, 163 Minn. at 232, 203 N.W. at 976. If an employee acts with malice in matters that would otherwise be subject to qualified privilege, the employee's malice can be imputed to the corporation if the employee's malice is so mingled with his regular work and the scope of his employment that it must follow that the wrongful act is done in the course of his employment. Id. at 234, 203 N.W. at 977. Thus, if Bahr presented enough evidence that Dobbs manifested ill will toward Bahr, and if Bahr could show that Boise's defamatory statements were made from that ill will, Dobbs' malice could be imputed to Boise. See Stuempges, 297 N.W.2d at 257 (stating well-settled Minnesota law that the plaintiff proves malice where the defendant `made the statement from ill will' (quoting McKenzie v. WM. J. Burns Int'l Detective Agency, Inc., 149 Minn. 311, 312, 183 N.W. 516, 517 (1921) (emphasis added))). When construed in the light most favorable to Bahr, the record shows some evidence that Dobbs harbored ill will toward Bahr. For example, Bahr testified that when Dobbs escorted Bahr from the mill on October 18, 2001, Dobbs refused to give Bahr a reason for the expulsion, even though company policy dictated that a reason should be given. Bahr also presented evidence that he and Dobbs had clashed several times during 2001 over Bahr's workload assignments and vacation time. But Bahr's claim that Dobbs' actions create a fact question as to Boise's malice fails because Bahr has not presented evidence to show that Boise's defamatory statements in the course of the investigation were motivated by Dobbs' ill will. The jury found that Dobbs did not make any defamatory statements, and there was no evidence presented that Dobbs orchestrated, managed, or conducted the Boise investigation. Boise's Corporate Policy, which says that Boise Cascade is committed to providing a professional work environment for its employees that is free from physical, psychological, or verbal harassment, and that [a] prompt and thorough investigation will be conducted for such matters, indicates that Boise was required to and would have investigated Rasmussen's complaint irrespective of Dobbs' feelings about Bahr. Finally, there is no evidence that Dobbs caused Rasmussen to come forward and report Bahr's behavior. In sum, there is no evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that Dobbs' personal ill feelings towards Bahr caused Boise's defamation. Bahr has not shown that Dobbs' ill will was connected to Boise's defamatory statements, and the only motivating force for Boise's statements revealed in the evidence is Boise's legitimate pursuit of the internal corporate investigation. See also Boston Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Varone, 303 F.2d 155, 159 (1st Cir.1962) (But if the motivating force for the publication is shown not to be the ill will, its existence is immaterial. Incidental gratification of personal feelings is irrelevant.). We therefore hold that Boise was entitled to judgment as a matter of law in the district court with respect to Boise's alleged defamation because Bahr did not present sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find in favor of Bahr on the question of actual malice as to Bosie. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.