Gibson v. Philip Morris, Inc.
Illinois Appellate Court
685 N.E.2d 638 (1997)
- Written by Alex Ruskell, JD
Facts
Randy Gibson (plaintiff) worked for Philip Morris, Inc. (defendant). As part of his job, Gibson kept Philip Morris incentive items in his garage. These incentive items included Marlboro belt buckles. In 1989, Philip Morris employees told Gibson’s supervisor that Gibson had sold the belt buckles at a yard sale. Selling incentive items was a dischargeable offense, so Gibson was fired. Gibson sued Philip Morris for defamation based on the Philip Morris employees’ written statements that Gibson sold the belt buckles. The trial court ruled in Gibson’s favor, awarding him over $1 million in damages for economic loss, health loss, and mental anguish. Philip Morris appealed, arguing that the employees’ statements resulted in merely defamation per quod and did not entitle Gibson to such damages.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Hopkins, J.)
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