Troutman v. Erlandson

Plaintiff recovered a verdict for general and punitive damages for defamation. Defendant appeals. Defendant’s principal assignment of error is that the trial court erred in denying its motion for directed verdict based upon the ground that the defendant is an attorney, his communication was made in conjunction with a judicial proceeding, and, therefore, it is absolutely privileged.

The parties, former partners, have waged numerous lawsuits against one another. Plaintiff owed Baker Production Credit Association (PCA) at least $140,000, which was secured by a farm. Defendant was a guarantor of…