Colista v. Thomas , 241 Mich. App. 529 ( 2000 )

616 N.W.2d 249 (2000) 241 Mich. App. 529

F. Philip COLISTA, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Philip J. THOMAS, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 208921.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted January 18, 2000, at Detroit. Decided June 23, 2000, at 9:10 a.m. Released for Publication September 6, 2000.

Bellanca, Beattie and De Lisle, P.C. (by Frank D. Eaman and Lawrence J. Paolucci), Harper Woods, for the plaintiff.

Robert E. Edick, Detroit, and Richard L. Cunningham, Detroit, for the defendant.

Before: BANDSTRA, C.J., and HOLBROOK, JR., and FITZGERALD, JJ.

BANDSTRA, C.J.

Defendant appeals by leave granted the trial court's order denying summary disposition of plaintiff's defamation suit. We affirm.

This case arises from a letter that was written by defendant on October 7, 1996, to Michigan Supreme Court Commissioner Glen B. Gronseth. At the time the letter was written, defendant was the Grievance Administrator for the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission. Gronseth served as liaison between the Supreme Court and the Attorney Grievance Commission. Plaintiff was a member of the Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC). The letter, written under the letterhead of the Attorney Grievance Commission, purported to contain information given to defendant regarding instances of misconduct by the JTC and its staff. The letter referenced the following allegations by JTC staff: (1) plaintiff was responsible in part for former JTC director Joseph F. Regnier's resignation, (2) plaintiff had used his position on the JTC for his personal benefit, (3) another JTC staff member had engaged in racial intimidation and harassment of members of the commission's support staff, and (4) plaintiff blocked discipline of that staff member and may have engaged in such intimidation and harassment himself. The letter also stated that JTC staff members had photocopied sensitive documents that may demonstrate that plaintiff engaged in conflicts of interest while serving on the commission out of concern that those documents would be destroyed. Moreover, defendant questioned JTC members' motives in appointing an interim director who defendant believed was incapable of serving in that capacity.^[1]

Gronseth passed defendant's letter on to the Michigan Supreme Court Chief Commissioner. Thereafter, then Chief Justice James H. Brickley forwarded the letter to JTC Chairman Henry Baskin, explaining that the Supreme Court felt it necessary to bring defendant's allegations to the chairman's attention. On March 19, 1997, an article was printed in the Detroit News referencing the substance of defendant's letter to Gronseth and Chief Justice Brickley's letter to the JTC. On September 30, 1997, plaintiff filed the present action, claiming that the allegations involving plaintiff referenced in defendant's letter to Gronseth were either false or cast plaintiff in a false light. Plaintiff alleged that defendant's publication of the falsities to Gronseth, the Justices of the Supreme Court, and the press damaged his reputation.

Defendant moved for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(7), (8), and (10), contending that he was immune from suit under MCR 9.125, that he did not publish the letter to any newspaper, and that plaintiff, a public official, had failed to allege any facts showing actual malice.^[2] The trial court denied defendant's motion for summary disposition, concluding that there were issues of fact concerning (1) whether defendant wrote the letter in the course of his duties and (2) whether defendant caused the letter to be sent to the newspaper.

Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(7) because he is absolutely immune from suit under the circumstances of the present case pursuant to MCR 9.125. We disagree. This Court recently discussed summary disposition based on a claim of statutory immunity:

On appeal, a trial court's grant of summary disposition is reviewed de novo. Spiek v. Dep't of Transportation, 456 Mich. 331, 337, 572 N.W.2d 201 (1998). Specifically, a court's interpretation of a statute is reviewed de novo on appeal. Stabley v. Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Park Authority, 228 Mich.App. 363, 366, 579 N.W.2d 374 (1998). When a motion for summary disposition is premised on MCR 2.116(C)(7), the nonmovant's well-pleaded allegations must be accepted as true and construed in the nonmovant's favor and the motion should not be granted unless no factual development could provide a basis for recovery. Stabley, supra at 365, 579 N.W.2d 374; Dewey v. Tabor, 226 Mich.App. 189, 192, 572 N.W.2d 715 (1997). "[T]he court must consider not only the pleadings, but also any affidavits, depositions, admissions, or documentary evidence that has been filed or submitted by the parties." Horace v. City of Pontiac, 456 Mich. 744, 749, 575 N.W.2d 762 (1998). If no facts are in dispute, whether the claim is statutorily barred is a question of law. Dewey, supra at 192, 572 N.W.2d 715. [Amburgey v. Sauder, 238 Mich.App. 228, 231, 605 N.W.2d 84 (1999).]

In contrast to the defendant in Amburgey, whose claim of immunity was rooted in a statute, defendant in the present case bases his claim of immunity on a court rule, MCR 9.125. However, the rules governing the interpretation of statutes apply with equal force to the interpretation of court rules. McAuley v. General Motors Corp., 457 Mich. 513, 518, 578 N.W.2d 282 (1998). The interpretation and application of the court rules, like the interpretation of statutes, is a question of law that is reviewed de novo on appeal. Id.; Szymanski v. Brown, 221 Mich.App. 423, 433, 562 N.W.2d 212 (1997).

MCR 9.125 provides:

A person is absolutely immune from suit for statements and communications transmitted solely to the administrator, the commission, or the commission staff, or given in an investigation or proceeding on alleged misconduct or reinstatement. The administrator, legal counsel, investigators, members of hearing panels, the commission, the board, and their staffs are absolutely immune from suit for conduct arising out of the performance of their duties.

The rule provides immunity to two classes of persons associated with the Attorney Grievance Commission: (1) persons giving statements and communications (a) transmitted to the grievance commission or administrator or (b) given in an investigation or proceeding; and (2) the administrator and others involved in the grievance process for conduct arising out of the performance of their duties. Defendant claims that he is entitled to absolute immunity as a member of both classes because his letter to Gronseth was a communication "given in an investigation or proceeding on alleged misconduct" and because his reporting of the plaintiff's conduct to the Supreme Court was "conduct arising out of the performance of [his] duties" as Attorney Grievance Administrator. We disagree.

First, we cannot conclude that defendant is immune from suit because his letter constitutes statements made in an investigation on alleged misconduct. In interpreting a rule, this Court must read its language in the context of the entire rule in order to produce an harmonious whole. Frank v. William A Kibbe & Associates, Inc., 208 Mich.App. 346, 354, 527 N.W.2d 82 (1995). MCR 9.125 is part of Chapter 9 of the court rules, which provides the procedure for attorney grievance proceedings. Although MCR 9.125 does not provide definitions of its terms, MCR 9.101 provides definitions of terms used in Chapter 9. MCR 9.101(12) defines "investigation" as "fact finding on alleged misconduct under the administrator's direction." The term "grievance" is defined as alleged misconduct. MCR 9.101(11). Clearly, the reference in MCR 9.125 to statements made in an investigation refers to fact finding on attorney grievances, not to all statements made to any tribunal. In the present case, defendant wrote the following: "I have hesitated to become involved in matters that do not directly concern me, but, I now feel I have no choice, but to come forward with this information." (Punctuation in original). Given that defendant himself admitted that the allegations did not directly concern him, we must conclude that there is, at the very least, a factual issue regarding whether defendant's statements were made in the course of investigating an attorney grievance.

Second, defendant's purpose in writing the letter is not clear. While much of the letter focuses on alleged improper conduct by plaintiff, the letter also focused on another JTC staff member's racial intimidation and harassment of other employees, the effect of the interim director's appointment and the overall ability of the JTC to function under the circumstances. The JTC is a constitutional entity, Const. 1963, art. 6, § 30, over which the Attorney Grievance Administrator is given no authority. Consequently, it cannot be said as a matter of law that defendant was engaging in conduct arising out of the performance of his duties as Grievance Administrator. Thus, we cannot conclude that defendant was entitled to summary disposition on the basis of MCR 9.125 immunity.

Further, we reject defendant's claim that summary disposition should have been granted under MCR 2.116(C)(10) because there is no genuine issue of material fact with respect to the elements of the defamation claim. A motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10) tests whether there is factual support for a claim. Spiek, supra at 337, 572 N.W.2d 201; Radtke v. Everett, 442 Mich. 368, 374, 501 N.W.2d 155 (1993). Generally, a motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10) is premature when discovery on a disputed issue has not been completed. State Treasurer v. Sheko, 218 Mich.App. 185, 190, 553 N.W.2d 654 (1996). However, summary disposition before the close of discovery is appropriate if there is no reasonable chance that further discovery will result in factual support for the nonmoving party. Id.

Defendant contends that further discovery would be an unnecessary waste of resources to uncover support for plaintiff's claim that defendant published the letter to the press. In order to make a prima facie case of defamation, a plaintiff must show (1) that the defendant made a false and defamatory statement concerning the plaintiff, (2) that the defendant published the defamatory statement to a third party, (3) that the defendant was at least negligent in publishing the statement, and (4) either actionability of the statement irrespective of special harm (defamation per se) or the existence of special harm caused by publication (defamation per quod). Ireland v. Edwards, 230 Mich.App. 607, 614-615, 584 N.W.2d 632 (1998). However, if the party claiming defamation is a public figure, the party must show that the statements were made with actual malice. Id. at 615, 584 N.W.2d 632.

Defendant in the present case contends that there is no dispute of fact regarding whether he caused the newspaper to receive a copy of the letter, thus defeating the element of publication. However, the allegation that defendant published the letter to the press is only one of the claims concerning publication. Plaintiff also alleged that defendant published the letter to the Supreme Court. The element of publication requires only that the statement must be published to a third party; it does not require that the statement go to the media. See DeFlaviis v. Lord & Taylor, Inc., 223 Mich.App. 432, 444, 566 N.W.2d 661 (1997) (defamation action would lie when alleged defamatory statements were made to prospective employer). When defendant sent the letter to Gronseth, the element of publication was satisfied. The trial court correctly denied summary disposition. State Treasurer, supra at 190, 553 N.W.2d 654.^[3]

We affirm.

NOTES

[1] The text of the letter was as follows:

As you are no doubt aware, Joseph F. Regnier, the former director of the Judicial Tenure Commission, resigned his position effective September 30, 1996. Although Mr. Regnier submitted a resignation concerning his employment, I have learned that he was actually terminated from his position and then given the option of resigning, which he accepted. As a result of the five years I spent working at the Judicial Tenure Commission, I know all current staff members of that agency and have received a considerable amount of uninvited information regarding the background of Mr. Regnier's separation from that office. I have labored at great length over whether to report these matters to the Court. I have hesitated to become involved in matters that do not directly concern me, but, I now feel I have no choice, but to come forward with this information. I am concerned that unless this situation is addressed by the Court, information may begin leaking out of the Judicial Tenure Commission and make its way into the media. I am also very concerned by my current belief that the Judicial Tenure Commission's staff is currently dysfunctional and is unable to carry out that agency's important function. I am writing to inform the Court of the following.

1. I have been informed that the breakdown in the relationship between Mr. Regnier and the Judicial Tenure Commission resulted from Mr. Regnier's support of proposed court rule amendments which would have precluded F. Philip Colista, who serves on that Commission, from representing respondent attorneys in Attorney Grievance Commission proceedings. After Mr. Regnier wrote to the Court expressing support for the proposed amendments, Mr. Colista allegedly wrote Mr. Regnier a rather nasty letter concerning the subject and circulated it to all Judicial Tenure Commission Members. I believe that certain members of the Judicial Tenure Commission staff have copies of, or access to [,] the letter Mr. Colista wrote to Mr. Regnier, which apparently resulted in the total breakdown in the relationship between those two individuals. The staff of the Judicial Tenure Commission feel that Mr. Colista abused his position as a Commission Member for his own benefit. This letter, if it exists, may be leaked to the media.

2. Since leaving this office and being hired by the Judicial Tenure Commission, ... has apparently developed a friendship with Judicial Tenure Commission Member, F. Philip Colista. I have been informed by several staff members from the Judicial Tenure Commission that ... has provided a considerable amount of information to Mr. Colista regarding the daily comings and goings at that office. I have seen a copy of a book which ... has allegedly kept over the last year documenting the comings and goings of Mr. Regnier and three members of the secretarial staff. There are some sort of coded entries contained in the book which reflect times when Mr. Regnier and the secretarial staff members have been away from the office, have arrived to work late, or left early. The three support staff members at the Judicial Tenure Commission are African-American and they believe that they are the subject of racial intimidation/harassment from ... and perhaps even Mr. Colista. I have been told that ... has made racial remarks to the secretarial staff .... has allegedly referred to Judicial Tenure Commission secretary ... as "mammy" on at least one and possibly more occasions. It is alleged that although Mr. Regnier attempted to address the situation he was not able to take action against ... due to her friendship with Mr. Colista. When I was told this information by one of the support staff members subjected to alleged racial intimidation, she was in tears.

3. I believe that several members of the Judicial Tenure Commission staff who are supportive of Mr. Regnier and who feel he was improperly treated have begun copying sensitive documents which may indicate that Mr. Colista engaged in conflicts of interest while serving as a member of that agency. These employees are apparently concerned that someone with access to the materials in question may destroy them.

4. On Tuesday, October 1, 1996, the Judicial Tenure Commission appointed staff counsel ... to act as interim director, until a decision is made on a permanent replacement for Mr. Regnier. I worked with ... for five years .... has been on staff at the Judicial Tenure Commission for two decades and to my knowledge has never been entrusted with more than a routine file to investigate .... has never been assigned a file that proceeded to any type of litigation since being at that office. I personally believe that ... is incapable of dealing with people in a one on one situation or with any type of excitement or stress and is incapable of functioning as the director of that agency. Several members of the Judicial Tenure Commission staff feel that someone such as ... was appointed to this important position so that he will not be able to take a definitive stand against or regarding the Commission in the coming months. Whether that is true or not, I do not know. However, I do know that ... is not capable of running that office on a day to day basis.

I strongly urge that the Court consider evaluating this situation.

[2] Although defendant argued that plaintiff (1) was a public figure and (2) had failed to allege facts showing actual malice, he does not raise either issue on appeal.

[3] Defendant argues only that the element of publication was not satisfied. He does not argue on appeal, and we do not address, whether an issue of fact exists with respect to the remaining elements. See Lawrence v. Will Darrah & Associates, Inc., 445 Mich. 1, 4, n. 2, 516 N.W.2d 43 (1994) (issues not raised on appeal may be construed as waived).

Further, our holding is based solely on the current state of the record and the current procedural posture of this case. Nothing in this Court's opinion should be read to preclude a motion for summary disposition either following discovery or if it becomes clear that further discovery will not uncover factual support for plaintiff's position. Dep't of Social Services v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 177 Mich.App. 440, 446, 443 N.W.2d 420 (1989).