Betty Brasfield v. Raymond C. Dyer, et al.

Betty Brasfield (“Plaintiff”) sued a former co-worker, Raymond Dyer, and a former boyfriend, Conley Dockery, claiming both defendants had defamed her and intentionally interfered with her employment contract with the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole (“the Board”). The Trial Court dismissed the intentional interference with contract claims before trial. At the end of a lengthy trial on the defamation claims, the jury returned a verdict against Dyer for $250,000, and against Dockery for $100,000. Both Dyer and Dockery (“Defendants”) filed a post-trial motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or, alternatively, for a new trial. The Trial Court granted Defendants’ motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and entered judgment for Defendants. Plaintiff appeals raising numerous issues. We conclude that Plaintiff presented no material evidence that her reputation was damaged by Defendants’ alleged defamatory statements and, even if her reputation was damaged, that it was Defendants who were responsible for that damage. Accordingly, we affirm the Trial Court’s granting Defendants’ motion or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We further conclude that there was no breach of contract and, therefore, the Trial Court properly dismissed before trial Plaintiff’s claim for intentional interference with contract.