Skinner v. Pistoria

Defendant Paul G. Pistoria appeals from a judgment entered by the Cascade County District Court following a jury verdict in favor of plaintiff Timothy B. Skinner. The jury for the defendant liable for defamation of the plaintiff’s character and awarded damages of $26,294. Although several issues are raised, we dispose of this appeal by holding that the defendant’s publication was made in the course of an official government meeting; it was therefore a privileged publication which would not subject the defendant to liability for defamation.

The defendant, Pistoria, has been active in Great…