Caruso v. LOCAL 690 INTERNL. BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS

A labor union appeals from a judgment of $244,000 in favor of a defamation plaintiff, raising instructional, juror challenge, and evidentiary issues. First, did the trial court err in submitting conflicting jury instructions on the elements of a defamation action and the burdens to be met by a defamation plaintiff, and assuming error, is reversal required where the jury nevertheless found the plaintiff met his highest burden and substantial evidence exists to support that finding?

Second, did the trial court commit reversible error in denying defendant's challenge for cause of a juror, where…