Ronald D. Dawson v. New York Life Insurance Company and Nylife Securities, Inc.

KANNE, Circuit Judge.

Ronald Dawson sued New York Life Insurance Company and NYLIFE Securities, Inc. (collectively “New York Life”) for defamation resulting from statements made on forms New York Life filed with the National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”) and oral statements New York Life officers made at a company meeting. The case proceeded to trial, and a jury awarded Dawson $1,300,000 in compensatory damages and $5,000,000 in punitive damages. New York Life appeals, questioning some of the jury instructions used and asserting immunity from defamation suits. Because certain jury…