Opinion ID: 2974707
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Defamation and Business Libel

Text: Erickson’s alleges that Gurican defamed it by telling at least one Erickson’s customer that it was going out of business and could not continue servicing its customers. Under Michigan law, the first element of a defamation claim is a false and defamatory statement concerning a plaintiff. See Rouch v. Enquirer & News of Battle Creek, 487 N.W.2d 205, 212 (Mich. 1992). The only evidence that Erickson’s presents that such a comment was ever made is an affidavit by the president of Erickson’s that “employees reported to him that . . . Gurican contacted personnel at [Erickson’s] largest Chicago customer, Coleman Floors, and advised that [Erickson’s] was going out of business and would not be able to service its customers.” As the district court correctly held, this affidavit relates hearsay, and an affidavit based solely on hearsay is insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact. See Dole v. Elliot Travel & Tours, Inc., 942 F.2d 962, 968 (6th Cir. 1991); Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). Therefore, the district court properly granted summary judgment on this claim.