Opinion ID: 2555874
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statements Producing a Proceeding.

Text: As to the first category, we consider whether the proceeding, which results from the statement, serves an important public interest and possess adequate procedural safeguards. As examples, in Miner v. Novotny, 304 Md. 164, 174-77, 498 A.2d 269, 273-75 (1985), and Imperial v. Drapeau, 351 Md. 38, 50-51, 716 A.2d 244, 250-51 (1998), we held that absolute privilege protected citizens who filed complaints with governmental entities against a deputy sheriff and an emergency medical technician, respectively. [15] The possible harm stemming from these defamatory complaints was outweighed by the public's interest in encouraging the filing and investigation of valid complaints. Miner, 304 Md. at 176, 498 A.2d at 275 (emphasis added); see also Imperial, 351 Md. at 50, 716 A.2d at 250-51 ([P]ublic policy encourages the communication of information to public authorities responsible for maintaining the quality of emergency medical services.).