Bals v. Verduzco

DICKSON, Justice.

Should employee evaluation information communicated intracompany to management personnel be considered "published" for purposes of a defamation action? We grant transfer to address this issue.

Both plaintiff-appellant Daniel I. Bals and defendant-appellee Albert Verduzco were employees of Inland Steel Company, with Bals under the direct supervision of Verduzco. Bals was terminated following a series of employee evaluation reports submitted by Verduzco. Bals commenced this action against Verduzco alleging defamation and tortious interference with an employment relationship.…