A team from GRSM’s Alexandria office, led by Partners Brian Scotti and Joe Meadows and Senior Counsel Stephanie Bortnick, recently secured a significant victory for their client, a national technology company, in a federal defamation case in the Eastern District of Virginia.
The plaintiff had filed the lawsuit seeking $6 million in damages, alleging that the client made defamatory statements during an investigation into the plaintiff's potential illegal and fraudulent conduct. The plaintiff claimed that these alleged defamatory statements resulted in the loss of its largest business partner and referral source. At trial, GRSM’s team robustly defended the client, denying that the statements were made as alleged and arguing that any comments made were expressions of opinion and made in good faith. The plaintiff, however, called several witnesses who supported his version of statements made and attempted to quantify the high amount of damages requested.
After deliberating for less than an hour, the jury found the evidence insufficient to support the plaintiff's defamation claim, answering "No" to the first question on the verdict form on whether the client defamed the plaintiff. This led to a verdict of no liability, bringing the case to a swift and favorable conclusion for GRSM’s client.
This outcome marks a significant victory in a complex and high-stakes legal dispute and underscores the strength of the firm’s National Trial Practice Group and its ability to handle defamation and other reputational matters.
Contact a member of GRSM’s Alexandria office with any questions about defamation claims or trying cases in the “Rocket Docket."