Shaw v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

818 F. Supp. 1539 (1993)

Purchase the Printed Copy at bsmsphd.com

Nature of the Case

To access this section all you need to do is click here and register.

Facts

P was employed by D for 18 years and worked as a sales representative at the time of his termination. A customer alleged that P had stolen sixty cartons of cigarettes from the customer's warehouse facility. D conducted an inventory of the cartons of cigarettes in P's vehicle. P had an excess number of cartons in his van in violation of company policy, although the parties disagree as to why there was an overage. P was acquitted of the criminal charges filed by the customer. Dorothy Giantonio, a customer, asked D about the circumstances surrounding P's departure from the company. D responded that the plaintiff had been fired for stealing cigarettes from another customer. Dorothy was an acquaintance of P and did not believe that he had stolen anything. She did not relay this information to any other persons. P sued D for slander and D moved for summary judgment.