Minyard Food Stores, Inc. v. Goodman

In this defamation case, we decide whether an employee who defames another employee to his employer during a workplace misconduct investigation was acting within the course and scope of his employment. A jury found that the culpable employee was acting within the course and scope and awarded both actual and punitive damages. The trial court rendered judgment on the verdict for actual damages against the defaming employee and the employer jointly and severally, but it disregarded the jury’s punitive damages award. A divided court of appeals affirmed the trial court’s judgment. 50 S.W.3d 131,…