Schomer v. Smidt

Opinion

KILGARIF, J. *

Cathleen Schomer filed a complaint on several grounds of intentional tort, including trespass, invasion of privacy, bat tery, intentional infliction of emotional stress, and slander. The principal action was for slander. The jury returned verdicts for $20,000 general damages and $16,000 punitive damages. The thrust of Schomer’s slander action was that Douglas Smidt uttered false and defamatory comments to her fellow employees which caused others to infer that Schomer was a lesbian. A codefendant, Conn Thrasher, upon motion at close of plaintiffs case, had judgment entered…