Court: Supreme Court of Texas
Docket: 18-0944
Opinion Date: June 4, 2021
Judge: John P. Devine
Areas of Law: Personal Injury
The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the court of appeals reversing the decision of the trial court denying Defendant’s motion for directed verdict as to nine of thirteen allegedly defamatory statements, holding that the trial court did not err in denying Defendant’s motion for directed verdict as to the nine disputed statements.
The court of appeals concluded that only four of thirteen statements submitted to the jury in a nonsegregated jury question met the requirements of the Defamation Mitigation Act (DMA) and reversed and remanded for a new trial with respect to only those four defamation claims. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the DMA provides of the abatement of claims and loss of exemplary damages, rather than dismissal; and (2) because that remedy was available to Defendant when Plaintiff amended his complaint to add the nine disputed statements, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Defendant’s motion for directed verdict as to those claims.
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