Opinion ID: 3051635
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: A Good Faith Belief in the Truth of the Statement

Text: [13] Finally, a plaintiff can defeat the privilege by showing that the defendant “ha[d] no reasonable grounds for believing [the] statements to be true.” Inst. of Athletic Motivation, 114 Cal. App. 3d at 12. Prior to sending the e-mails, Ms. Roman was told by Ms. Metz that the plaintiffs had suffered some setbacks stemming from an instance of embezzlement. Mr. Metz also told Ms. Roman, before she sent the e-mails, that the plaintiffs were not in financial distress, and that the only problem of their business was the cost of, and time taken by, the AT&T contract. Nothing in the record suggests that Ms. Roman had firsthand knowledge of the plaintiffs’ financial position, except to the extent AT&T was failing to make timely payments. During her deposition, Ms. Roman admitted that at the time she sent the e-mails, she understood that the plaintiffs “were able to [provide services], but they chose not to.” At another point, Ms. Roman testified that Mr. Metz had told her “he couldn’t do it [provide services] any more.” These factors, particularly when viewed alongside the eviSDV/ACCI, INC. v. AT&T CORP. 3833 dence of malice, raise a triable issue as to her good faith belief in the truth of her statement, an issue that a trier of fact must decide. Therefore, we reverse the grant of summary judgment on the issue of good faith.