McBride v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Sheran, Chief Justice.

Appeal from an order denying plaintiff’s blended motion for a new trial or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Plaintiff, a former employee of defendant, brought this action for slander and wrongful termination of employment. In her complaint and at trial she alleged that defendant’s security employees in the course of an investigation of irregular, and possibly dishonest, employee practices had accused her of taking merchandise from the store without paying for it and baselessly caused her to be discharged. With respect to the slander claim, Sears raised the defense…