Combes v. Montgomery Ward & Co.

CROCKETT, Justice.

The plaintiff was discharged from his job with the defendant company on April 7, 1949, and this is an action for slander arising out of the events surrounding that discharge. At the trial in the court below, after the presentation of all the evidence, the court ruled that the statements complained of were privileged communications and that there was no actual malice, and directed a verdict for the defendants, no cause of action. The appeal is from that ruling.

The plaintiff’s employment with Montgomery Ward & Company was in the garage department adjacent to the rear of its…