Question: I came across an article about a defamation lawsuit against the Eden Retirement Center on the Web site:
http://www.stclairrecord.com/news/newsview.asp?c=168972
Have there been any updates to the case? I would like to analyze this case for my grad school communications law class. Please let me know.
Deanna Fryer
Gonzo: Trudy Baxter, who claimed she was abruptly terminated on Aug. 19, 2005, after being falsely charged with having sexual relations with another person while engaged in her employer's business filed a motion on Feb. 28, to voluntarily dismiss her suit.
On March 6, Circuit Judge Lola Maddox signed the order dismissing the case.
Baxter claimed Eden and Beth Briehan, the human resources manager, made unprivileged and false statements to third persons when they knew, or had reason to know, the statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth or falsity of the statement.
Baxter also claimed the publication of her termination of employment and the basis for the termination constitutes an invasion of her privacy because it constitutes a public disclosure of private facts and placed her in a false light before the public.
According to Baxter, she suffered emotional distress, humiliation, anguish, embarrassment, fright, shock, pain, discomfort, anxiety and damage to her reputation.
She was seeking compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $100,000.
Editor's Note: Questions about old cases should be sent to steve@madisonrecord.com.