Waechter v. Carnation Co.

Plaintiffs, Ray Waechter, Roger Freeland and Cecil Henderson, d/b/a Superior Dairy, commenced a defamation action against defendants, Carnation Co., Wayne Harris, Gary Allen, Clifford Lucas, and their re spective wives. Defendants Harris and Lucas were dismissed from the case. A jury awarded plaintiffs $25,000. Defendants appeal.

Carnation Co. operates a retail residential route, delivering dairy products to about 1,900 residents of the Tri-Cities. Allen is a driver-salesman for Carnation. Plaintiffs Waechter and Freeland were employed by Carnation as driver route-salesmen until about 1965. At…