Smalls v. Wright

In this appeal from a judgment in favor of a plaintiff in a defamation action, we determine whether the trial court erred (1) in failing to rule that the defendant’s alleged defamatory statements were qualifiedly privileged, and (2) in granting certain jury instructions and in refusing others.

Joseph W. Wright filed a defamation action against Christel T. Smalls. A jury returned a verdict in favor of Wright, awarding him $1,000 in compensatory damages and $7,500 in punitive damages. The trial court entered judgment in accordance with the verdict, and Smalls appeals.

I

Smalls is a resident of the…