Postma v. Sioux Center News

HARRIS, Justice.

A libel suit brought by plaintiff Harold 0. Postma and members of his family was dismissed as a sanction for Postma’s failure to appear for his deposition. Upon plaintiffs’ appeal we affirm in part, reverse in part and remand.

Harold 0. Postma (Postma) was serving as Sioux County attorney in 1982 when defendant newspapers printed articles quoting “six unnamed attorneys” and one “unnamed legal official” from the area (also defendants in this action) who claimed Postma was “often late to hearings or trials” and kept his office understaffed as a “political ploy” in order to appear…