Laughland v. Beckett

¶ 1. John Beckett appeals a judgment of the circuit court, following a bench trial. The circuit court found that Beckett defamed Stephen Laughland by creating a Facebook page in *156Laughland's name and posting numerous items that defamed Laughland and disparaged Laughland's character. The circuit court found Beckett did all this with malicious intent, and awarded both general and punitive damages. Beckett argues on appeal that his postings were beyond the applicable statute of limitations for defamation actions, his posts were not defamatory, and that the evidence does not support the damages…