Cowman v. Lavine

REES, Justice.

This is an appeal by defendant Russell J. LaVine from judgment entered against him on a jury verdict in an action for damages for slander. Defendant’s post trial motion for a new trial was overruled, and defendant appeals. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

The allegedly slanderous statements which spawned this litigation occurred at an August 28, 1972, meeting of the city council at Des Moines, at which defendant was present in his capacity as city councilman. Plaintiff at that time was assistant chief of the city’s auxiliary police department, of which he had been a member…