Opinion ID: 2161618
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: defendants/appellants' appeal

Text: Steinbronn and Miley Security Services contend that the court erred in denying their motions for judgment n.o.v. or a new trial. In addressing these issues we follow certain well-settled rules. A judgment notwithstanding the verdict should be entered only in a clear case, when the facts are such that no two reasonable persons could fail to agree that the verdict was improper; any doubts should be resolved in favor of the verdict winner. Merion Spring Co. v. Muelles Hnos. Garcia Torres, 315 Pa.Super. 469, 481, 462 A.2d 686, 693, quoting Martin v. Soblotney, 296 Pa.Super. 145, 168-169, 442 A.2d 700, 702 (1982), rev'd on other grounds, 502 Pa. 418, 466 A.2d 1022 (1983). On appeal from the trial court's refusal of a motion for judgment n.o.v., the sole duty of the appellate court is to decide whether there was sufficient competent evidence to sustain the verdict, granting the verdict winner . . . the benefit of every favorable inference reasonably to be drawn from the evidence. Laniecki v. Polish Army Veterans Assn., 331 Pa.Super. 413, 417, 480 A.2d 1101, 1103 (1984), quoting McDevitt v. Terminal Warehouse Co., 304 Pa.Super. 438, 442, 450 A.2d 991, 993 (1982). A motion for a new trial should be granted only if the verdict is so contrary to the evidence as to shock the conscience of the court. Leslie v. Pennco, Inc., 323 Pa.Super. 23, 470 A.2d 110 (1983). The trial court's ruling on the motion for new trial will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion or error of law which controlled the outcome of the case. Laniecki, 331 Pa.Super. at 418, 480 A.2d at 1103. When the record is reviewed in light of these principles it is clear that the jury's verdict on the defamation counts must stand. By introducing virtually no evidence on their own behalf, appellants challenged the Geyers to meet their burden of proof. Among the elements which plaintiffs were required to establish are the defamatory character of the communication, the understanding by the recipient of its defamatory meaning, special harm resulting to the plaintiff from its publication, [5] and abuse of a conditionally privileged occasion. 42 Pa.C.S. § 8343(a)(1), (4), (6), (7). Appellants make a patently meritless attempt to argue that the statements at issue were non-defamatory. A fair reading of the statements shows that they implicated Joseph Geyer in a forgery scheme in which a large amount of money was embezzled from his employer. Accusations of dishonesty or theft by an employee, even if indirect, have consistently been held to meet the test of defamatory meaning. Agriss v. Roadway Express, Inc., 334 Pa.Super. 295, 483 A.2d 456 (1984); Berg v. Consolidated Freightways, Inc., 280 Pa.Super. 495, 421 A.2d 831 (1980). See also Thomas Merton Center v. Rockwell International, 497 Pa. 460, 463, 442 A.2d 213, 216 (1981), cert. denied, 457 U.S. 1134, 102 S.Ct. 2961, 73 L.Ed.2d 1351 (1982) (statement which ascribes to another conduct, character or a condition that would aversely affect his fitness for the proper conduct of his lawful business, trade or profession is defamatory). We note that plaintiff was pursuing a career in security, a field where integrity and trustworthiness are especially crucial. In this context the veiled accusations in the statements of Steinbronn must be viewed as capable of a defamatory meaning. The understanding by the recipient (Sears) of the defamatory character of the communication is self-evident; the reports were treated as reflecting sufficiently unfavorably on Geyer's qualifications and fitness for the job that an offer of employment already made was summarily withdrawn. For the same reason, there can be no doubt that there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find special harm. Finally, plaintiffs introduced sufficient evidence to meet their burden of demonstrating abuse of the conditional privilege. Plaintiffs concede that the statements of Steinbronn in response to the inquiries of Sears and Service Review are conditionally privileged. See Zuschek v. Whitmoyer Laboratories, Inc., 430 F.Supp. 1163 (E.D.Pa. 1977), aff'd, 571 F.2d 573 (3rd Cir. 1978). In the private-plaintiff context, a conditional privilege may be defeated upon a showing of either negligence or malice. Hepps v. Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., 506 Pa. 304, 485 A.2d 374 (1984); Beckman v. Dunn, 276 Pa.Super. 527, 419 A.2d 583 (1980). We agree with the trial court that the evidence was sufficient for the jury to conclude that Steinbronn communicated in at least a negligent manner several defamatory falsehoods concerning plaintiff. Trial Court Opinion at 16. Appellants suggest in their brief that the evidence establishes that the statements of Steinbronn were true. In this regard we note that our Supreme Court in Hepps v. Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., 506 Pa. 304, 485 A.2d 374 (1984), upheld 42 Pa.C.S. § 8343(b)(1), which places the burden of proving the truth of the defamatory communication on the defendant. As we have noted, defendants presented little evidence on their behalf. At best, we can say that defendants' cross-examination of plaintiff's witnesses raised some factual issues about the accuracy of Steinbronn's statements, but the jury was certainly free to resolve these conflicts in favor of the plaintiff. We must hold that defendants have failed to meet their burden of establishing truth. For the foregoing reasons we hold defendants are not entitled to a new trial or judgment n.o.v. on the defamation claims.
The classic statement of the elements of an action for intentional interference with prospective contractual relations is found in Glenn v. Point Park College, 441 Pa. 474, 272 A.2d 895 (1971). The burden is on the plaintiff to establish the following: a) the existence of a proper prospective contractual relationship between the plaintiff and a third party, b) the defendant must act for the purpose of causing the specific type of harm to plaintiff, c) the act must be unprivileged, and d) actual harm must result. There is little dispute concerning elements (a) and (d). Appellants make a feeble attempt to argue lack of harm based on the statement in Sears' letter to Geyer informing him that the decision to withdraw their offer was based at least in part on the unfavorable reports. However, the evidence was clearly sufficient for the jury to conclude that the negative remarks of Steinbronn, both directly and through Service Review, were a cause of Sears' action. Indeed no evidence suggesting any other reasons for their decision was adduced. Appellants' main arguments go to intent and privilege. Appellants contend that the evidence fails to establish that Steinbronn acted with any bad motive toward Geyer. However, there was considerable evidence adduced by plaintiff that the relations between him and Steinbronn were quite hostile. This evidence could support an inference of ill will. Moreover, even if we were to accept defendants' reading of the record, ill will or bad motive per se are not required to establish the intent element. This Court held in Yaindl v. Ingersoll-Rand Co., 281 Pa.Super. 560, 422 A.2d 611 (1980), that the intent to cause harm element must be understood as requiring only an intention to interfere with the plaintiff's prospective contractual relation and not malevolent spite by the defendant. 281 Pa.Super. at 581, n. 11, 422 A.2d at 622, n. 11. Obviously it will be the rare defendant who boldly declares that he in fact did intend to interfere with the plaintiff's prospective contractual relation. Therefore, the jury usually will be called upon to draw an inference from circumstantial evidence. The defendant's state of mind and possible motives are certainly relevant to the inquiry even if ill will per se is not a requisite. The record does not entitle us to conclude as a matter of law that there was no basis for a finding of intent. With respect to the privilege issue, defendants cite us to Restatement (Second) of Torts § 772, which provides: One who intentionally causes a third person not to perform a contract or not to enter into a prospective contractual relation with another does not interfere improperly with the other's contractual relation by giving the third person: (a) truthful information, or (b) honest advice within the scope of a request for the advice. Appellants repeat their claim made with respect to the defamation counts that Steinbronn simply stated the truth as he believed it to be at the time. Once again we emphasize that the jury found to the contrary. There was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that many of Steinbronn's statements were not true and they were not made with a reasonable belief that they were true. Indeed there is evidence to support a finding that Steinbronn knew some of them were false. There is further no sign of a cavalier disregard by the jury of evidence favorable to appellants which would entitle us to hold the verdict against the weight of the evidence. The jury observed the witnesses and their demeanor and is therefore in the best position to assess credibility. We will not disturb the verdict on the intentional interference with prospective contractual relations count.

Appellants argue that the trial court erred in failing to charge the jury in accordance with its points for charge 8, 10 and 26. In considering challenges to the trial court's instructions to the jury, we must examine the charge in its entirety to determine whether the jury has been misled or prejudiced; error cannot be based on isolated excerpts. Riddle Memorial Hospital v. Dohan, 504 Pa. 571, 475 A.2d 1314 (1984). The failure to charge in the precise words requested by a party is not error where the instruction given is complete and correct. Fish v. Gosnell, 316 Pa.Super. 565, 463 A.2d 1042 (1983). The instructions requested by appellants concern the subjects of malice and privilege. Point 8 states that a defamation plaintiff must prove malice. Point 10 states that a non-negligent publication on a conditionally privileged occasion does not give rise to liability. Point 26 states that in a conditionally privileged occasion the absence of malice is presumed and the plaintiff has the burden of proving abuse of privilege. With respect to point 8, it is the law in Pennsylvania that a private figure defamation plaintiff may meet his burden by proving that the defamatory matter was published with either malice or negligence. Rutt v. Bethlehems' Globe Publishing Co., 335 Pa.Super. 163, 484 A.2d 72 (1984); 42 Pa.C.S. § 8344. The court properly refused Point 8 because it erroneously states the law. We further find that the trial court properly instructed the jury on the plaintiff's burden of proof. Without actually using the word malice, the court clearly instructed that the plaintiff must show that the publication was made intentionally, recklessly or negligently, defining all three. As the trial court observed in its opinion, the term malice has been a perennial source of confusion in the law of defamation. The court instead gave a carefully crafted charge which stated the law clearly as well as correctly. With respect to Points 10 and 26, we hold that the court properly instructed the jury on conditional privilege and its abuse. Point 10 is somewhat ambiguous and in any case it is superfluous. To the extent it attempts to define when a conditionally privileged occasion exists, it is unnecessary because the court determined at trial that a conditional privilege existed and the plaintiff conceded that the defamatory statements were conditionally privileged. To the extent that Point 10 is a request for an instruction that reckless or wanton disregard of plaintiff's rights or negligence (want of reasonable cause to ascertain the truth or falsity of the statement) are required to show abuse of a conditional privilege, this subject was adequately and correctly covered in the court's charge. See Hepps; Beckman. The trial court also correctly instructed the jury that the plaintiff has the burden of showing abuse of a conditional privilege. See R. 771a. The court did not use the language of Point 26 because it believed that the introduction of the problematic word malice would only serve to confuse and mislead. We agree and commend the trial court for its insightfulness.
Appellants argue that the trial court erred by failing to charge the jury according to Point 29. Point 29 states that in an action for intentional interference with prospective contractual relations the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the defendant's conduct was not privileged. We do not address the merits of this question because it has not been preserved for appeal. Defendants failed to object in the trial court to the failure to charge on Point 29 or in any other way to the court's charge on intentional interference with prospective contractual relations. See R. 797a-799a. Therefore the issue is waived. Dilliplaine v. Lehigh Valley Trust Co., 457 Pa. 255, 322 A.2d 114 (1974); Capan v. Divine Providence Hospital, 270 Pa.Super. 127, 410 A.2d 1282 (1979).

Appellants contend that the compensatory damages awarded were excessive and not supported by the evidence. The assessment of damages is peculiarly within the province of the jury and the jury's award will not be upset on appeal unless it is so excessive as to shock the conscience of the court or it is clearly based on partiality, prejudice or passion. DeSimone v. City of Philadelphia, 380 Pa. 137, 110 A.2d 431 (1955); Pratt v. Stein, 298 Pa.Super. 92, 444 A.2d 674 (1982); Padula v. Godshalk, 192 Pa.Super. 618, 161 A.2d 919 (1960). Appellants make several specific arguments in support of their claims. They argue that the evidence of pecuniary harm, which was primarily the wages plaintiff lost as a result of not being hired by Sears, was too conjectural and speculative to support an award of damages because the evidence established that Mr. Geyer was unable to hold a job long enough to realize such benefits which were measured over a seven year period (up until the time of trial). With regard to the noneconomic (pain and suffering) elements of damages, appellants argue that Mr. Geyer's alcohol problems began long before he was employed with Miley and that the psychiatric evidence was inconclusive. With regard to the loss of consortium damages awarded Mrs. Geyer, appellants contend that the plaintiffs' marital relationship had already deteriorated and Mrs. Geyer suffered no further harm as a result of appellants' conduct. We hold that none of these factors warrant disturbing the jury's award of compensatory or loss of consortium damages. The jury was aware of the facts surrounding Mr. Geyer's employment history and it was within their province to weigh that evidence in evaluating the claim of lost wages. We find no support for a finding that the jury misapprehended or disregarded the evidence. Furthermore, it is not necessary that damages be determined with mathematical certainty. Lokay v. Lehigh Valley Cooperative Farmers, Inc., 342 Pa.Super. 89, 492 A.2d 405 (1985); Duquesne Light Co. v. Rippel, 329 Pa.Super. 289, 478 A.2d 472 (1984). With respect to the non-pecuniary elements of damage, we agree that the plaintiffs may not have started off in the best of circumstances, but a defendant must take the plaintiff as he finds him and damages are available for the aggravation of a previously existing condition. Majors v. Brodhead Hotel, 416 Pa. 265, 205 A.2d 873 (1965). There was evidence adduced at trial from which the jury could have found that the loss of the Sears job precipitated a worsening of Mr. Geyer's alcoholism which sent his personal life into a tailspin and caused the plaintiffs' marriage to deteriorate markedly. [6] Where the jury's determination of damages is based on its assessment of the weight of conflicting evidence the appellate courts should not interfere. See Paustenbaugh v. Ward Baking Co., 374 Pa. 418, 97 A.2d 816 (1953); Lokay v. Lehigh Valley Cooperative Farmers Inc .; Delahanty v. First Pennsylvania Bank N.A., 318 Pa.Super. 90, 464 A.2d 1243 (1983). Finally, the absolute amount of the verdict is not facially exorbitant or disproportionate to the damages claimed. We hold that the trial court committed no abuse of discretion in refusing to set aside or reduce the award of damages. Appellants have also included in their brief an argument that the trial court erred in refusing to charge the jury on certain points relating to speculative or conjectural damages. We will not consider this claim because it was not set forth in the statement of questions involved. Rago v. Nace, 313 Pa.Super. 575, 460 A.2d 337 (1983); Pa.R.A.P. 2116(a).
Appellants also attack the award of punitive damages, likewise contending that they were excessive and were not supported by the evidence. We note at the outset that the punitive damage award was one-half of the compensatory damage award which we have upheld, so this case does not raise the issue of a punitive damages award disproportionate to the award of compensatory damages. Cf. Walder v. Lobel, 339 Pa.Super. 203, n. 3, 488 A.2d 622, 627 n. 3 (1985) (the law is unclear as to the relationship between compensatory damages and punitive damages; collecting cases). We therefore focus on the question whether there was sufficient evidence to support the jury's award of punitive damages. Since we must have a yardstick against which to measure the evidence, this allegation of error necessarily leads us into an examination of the proper standard for awarding punitive damages. The trial court charged the jury in accordance with Restatement (Second) of Torts § 908 (1977). Under the Restatement formulation, punitive damages are available where there has been outrageous conduct, i.e. acts done with an evil motive or with reckless indifference to the rights of others. Similar language appears in our case law. Feld v. Merriam, 506 Pa. 383, 485 A.2d 742 (1984); Delahanty v. First Pennsylvania Bank ; Smith v. Brown, 283 Pa.Super. 116, 423 A.2d 743 (1980). However, Feld, Delahanty and Smith are not defamation cases. Because punitive damages in defamation actions are in effect a punishment for speech [7] , the formulation of the appropriate standard has been influenced by constitutional considerations. In Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323, 349, 94 S.Ct. 2997, 3011, 41 L.Ed.2d 789 (1974), the United States Supreme Court held, [T]he States may not permit recovery of presumed or punitive damages, at least when liability is not based on a showing of knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth. This is, of course, the familiar actual malice formulation of New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 84 S.Ct. 710, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964). The scope of the Gertz holding was not clear. Some jurisdictions viewed the Gertz standard as applicable only to suits against the news media; others applied the Gertz standard to non-media defendants as well. Compare General Motors Corp. v. Piskor, 277 Md. 165, 352 A.2d 810 (1976); Gibby v. Murphy, 73 N.C.App. 128, 325 S.Ed.2d 673 (1985); and Fleming v. Moore, 221 Va. 884, 275 S.E.2d 632 (1981)(applying Gertz to non-media defendant cases) with Roemer v. Retail Credit Co., 44 Cal.App.3d 926, 119 Cal. Rptr. 82 (1975); Vinson v. Linn-Mar Community School District, 360 N.W.2d 108 (Iowa 1984); and Greenmoss Builders v. Dun & Bradstreet Inc., 143 Vt. 66, 461 A.2d 414 (1983), aff'd on other grounds, 472 U.S. ___, 105 S.Ct. 2939, 86 L.Ed.2d 593 (1985) (holding Gertz not applicable to cases not involving public figures or media defendants). The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in Greenmoss Builders and clarified the scope of Gertz, but the Court eschewed the media-nonmedia distinction. Instead, in Dun & Bradstreet v. Greenmoss Builders, 472 U.S. ___, 105 S.Ct. 2939, 86 L.Ed.2d 593 (1985), a plurality of the Court [8] held that permitting recovery of presumed and punitive damages in defamation cases absent a showing of `actual malice' does not violate the First Amendment when the defamatory statements do not involve matters of public concern. Id. at 2948. The instant case does not involve speech on a matter of public concern. Therefore, under Greenmoss Builders the actual malice standard is not mandated as a matter of federal constitutional law. However, since Greenmoss Builders was decided strictly within the context of whether the First Amendment imposed restrictions on state defamation law, a state is free to adopt actual malice as the standard for awarding punitive damages in defamation actions not involving statements of public concern or to continue using actual malice if it has already been doing so, even though the Constitution does not require it. The decisions of our courts in defamation cases have not been consistent. In Hepps v. Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., 506 Pa. 304, 485 A.2d 374 (1984), prob. juris. noted, ___ U.S. ___, 105 S.Ct. 3496, 87 L.Ed.2d 628 (1985), our Supreme Court applied the actual malice holding of Gertz. Hepps, however, involved speech on a public issue. Although Hepps is instructive on the punitive damages question now before us, Hepps is not entirely apposite to the case sub judice. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision in Hepps predates the United States Supreme Court's decision in Greenmoss Builders. Hepps is explicitly based on the United States Supreme Court's Gertz opinion which required proof of actual malice to justify a punitive damages award, Hepps, 506 Pa. at 330, 485 A.2d at 388, and which did not articulate a distinction between defamation actions involving public concerns and those involving private concerns. See Greenmoss Builders. Moreover, the defamatory speech in Hepps involved a matter of public interest [9] (five investigative articles printed in a newspaper of general circulation) whereas the defamatory remarks in the instant case concern a matter of solely private interest. In cases not involving speech on matters of public concern, the decisions of this Court have been conflicting. In Laniecki v. Polish Army Veterans Association, 331 Pa.Super. 413, 423, 480 A.2d 1101, 1106 (1984), we observe[d] that Pennsylvania has embraced Section 908 of the Restatements (Second) of Torts and the Comments thereunder as to punitive damages. Two months later, though, this Court cited the Gertz actual malice standard for punitive damages in a private defamation case, Agriss v. Roadway Express Inc., 334 Pa.Super. 295, 483 A.2d 456 (1984). The discussion of punitive damages in Agriss is arguably dictum, since Agriss was an appeal from an order entering a nonsuit. Obviously, no damage issues were ripe at that point. The most recent statement of our courts on the issue merely compounds the confusion. In Walder v. Lobel, 339 Pa.Super. 203, 211, 488 A.2d 622, 626 (1985), this Court held, To justify punitive damages, the plaintiff must show actual malice on the part of the defendant (emphasis added). However, this apparently clear statement is made somewhat ambiguous because the court cited as authority for this statement both Feld, which applied section 908 of the Restatement, and Hepps, which applied the actual malice standard of Gertz. The source of the ambiguity may be a pre- New York Times v. Sullivan decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Purcell v. Westinghouse Broadcasting Co., 411 Pa. 167, 191 A.2d 662 (1963), which described the evil motive/outrageous conduct standard of the Restatement as actual malice. Because the court in Walder did not elaborate further on its holding, it is not completely clear which meaning of actual malice was intended. As we have noted above, the effect of the United States Supreme Court's decision in Greenmoss Builders is to leave the determination of the appropriate standard for awarding punitive damages in defamation actions in the hands of the individual States. Therefore, although New York Times actual malice is not constitutionally required, we may choose to adopt it for other reasons. After careful consideration of the issue we have concluded that knowledge of or recklessness as to falsity of the publication, i.e. actual malice as defined in New York Times v. Sullivan , is the proper standard for awarding punitive damages in defamation cases not involving speech on matters of public concern. There are two threads which run consistently through the otherwise jumbled body of law on punitive damages. The first is that punitive damages are appropriate only where there has been conduct more egregious than that which merely establishes the underlying tort. [10] The second is that the purpose of punitive damages is to punish the egregious wrongdoer and to deter the defendant and others from engaging in such conduct. See Delahanty v. First Pennsylvania Bank N.A., 318 Pa.Super. 90, 128-30, 464 A.2d 1243, 1262-63 (1983). Punishment focuses more directly on the individual and carries with it the idea of moral blameworthiness. Deterrence, on the other hand, involves the social goal of preventing further harm by imposing an additional economic disincentive on the wrongful conduct. Both meanings of the word malice define conduct more egregious than the ordinary negligence required to establish liability in private plaintiff-private defendant defamation cases. However, the two kinds of malice address different aspects of the defendant's conduct. It has been said that ill-will malice of the type described in section 908 of the Restatement, which we shall describe hereinafter as common law malice, refers to the defendant's attitude towards the plaintiff whereas actual malice as defined in New York Times v. Sullivan refers to the defendant's attitude toward the truth. See Note, Punitive Damages and Libel Law, 98 Harv.L.Rev. 847 (1985). The question therefore becomes one of which type of conduct we wish to punish and deter through the vehicle of punitive damages. The principle that punitive damages are only appropriate for conduct which is intentionally wrongful and therefore morally blameworthy at first suggests the conclusion that common law malice is the appropriate standard, because the concept of ill will directly connotes intent to harm the plaintiff. See J. Sales, Punitive Damages: The Doctrine of a Bygone Era, at 5-6 (1984), citing Ellis, Fairness and Efficiency in the Law of Punitive Damages, 56 S.Cal.L.Rev. 1, 21-22 (1982). Indeed, actual malice has been described as less evil than common law malice. K. Redden and L. Schlueter, Punitive Damages 80 (Cum.Supp. 1983). We disagree with this view and hold that the actual malice standard defines more closely the kind of intentionally wrongful conduct which should be the subject of our concern in imposing punitive damages in defamation actions. Although the ill will component of common law malice clearly involves conduct directly intended to harm the plaintiff, actual malice conduct is equally intentional with respect to the falsity of the publication. This is so whether the finding of actual malice is based on knowing or reckless conduct. Knowingly publishing a falsehood definitionally involves actions of an intentional nature. Recklessness, while ostensibly distinguishable from intentional conduct, [11] has been defined strictly in this context as entertaining serious doubts about the truth of the publication. St. Amant v. Thompson, 390 U.S. 727, 88 S.Ct. 1323, 20 L.Ed.2d 262 (1968). This high level of scienter suggests a deliberate decision to proceed in the face of known risks which we believe closely approaches intentional conduct. Although both the deliberate lie and the malevolent attack are morally blameworthy, we believe that our standard for assessing punitive damages in defamation actions should focus on the former. In its essence the law of libel is concerned with the harm which may be done to a citizen's reputation by the communication of false and defamatory statements concerning him. The wrongful act committed by the defamer, i.e. the act which causes the harm to the plaintiff, is therefore the publication of the libelous words, not the holding of a malevolent or spiteful attitude towards the plaintiff. A hateful attitude towards the plaintiff without more may be thought of as a non-actionable opinion. Indeed, since truth is an absolute defense the person who communicates a statement solely for the most despicable motives escapes liability if the statement is true. In other words, the law should focus not on attitudes but on the nature of the defendant's actions. It has also been said that the defendant who acts with actual malice may not intend to hurt the plaintiff at all. For example, a publisher may go ahead with a questionable story which he feels will sell more newspapers, or in the private context an employee may seek to improve his chances for a promotion. See K. Redden and L. Schlueter, supra, main volume at § 13.15. However, even if the immediate motive of the deliberate or reckless liar may not be to harm the plaintiff, he does at least have reason to know that harm may result from his conduct. Therefore we may characterize his conduct as a deliberate choice to seek his own advantage regardless of the possible consequences to others or a decision that the benefits to him outweigh the potential risks that others will be harmed and he will be held accountable. [12] Such conduct of a calculated nature seems to be precisely the kind of wrongfulness to which we should attach a punitive sanction. For similar reasons we believe that the actual malice standard better meets the goals behind the policy of deterrence. The most meaningful kind of deterrence is obviously that which directly addresses the wrongful act itself, which as we have noted above involves the communication of false defamatory statements about the plaintiff. Ill will is not easily amenable to regulation. Courts and laws cannot realistically deter someone from disliking or hating another. However, the law can encourage a person to be more careful about what he says publicly about another, including the object of his ill will. In the context of determining when liability should be imposed, one commentator has reasoned that the social interest in a communication is not diminished by the fact that the speaker may be motivated by ill will toward the plaintiff, so long as the speaker is not knowingly or intentionally lying. See R. Smolla, Let the Author Beware: The Rejuvenation of the American Law of Libel, 132 U.Pa.L. Rev. 1, 80 (1983). It seems that this reasoning may be applied to the assessment of damages as well, leading to the conclusion that the additional sanction of punitive damages should be imposed only where the defendant has intentionally lied or has acted in reckless disregard of the truth. Although we hold that the actual malice standard applies, we nonetheless affirm the award of punitive damages because the only context in which the issue is brought before us is sufficiency of the evidence. As we have discussed above in connection with the absence of a privilege to interfere with a prospective contractual relation (see supra at 13), there was evidence which would support a finding of Steinbronn's knowledge of the falsity of the statements. Hence there was sufficient evidence of the actual malice required to support an award of punitive damages. Cf. Mazer v. William Bros. Co., 461 Pa. 587, 337 A.2d 559 (1975); Lobianco v. Property Protection Inc., 292 Pa.Super. 346, 437 A.2d 417 (1981) (appellate court may affirm trial court on any grounds, including grounds not relied on below).