Pickering v. Frink

The sole issue presented by this appeal is whether the act of the defendants, thirteen citizens of Newington, in signing a petition charging the plaintiff, Walter H. Pickering, Jr., Newington’s fire chief, with misconduct and seeking his removal, was absolutely privileged and therefore required the dismissal of the plaintiff’s libel action. We reverse the order of dismissal and remand.

The plaintiff was a member of the Newington Volunteer Fire Department for nearly thirty-eight years. In 1974, he was appointed fire chief by the Newington Board of Fire Engineers, and he served as chief until…