John R. Zsigray v. Cindy Langman and J.W. Ebert Corporation ( 2020 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA
January 2020 Term
_______________ FILED
March 27, 2020
No. 18-0461 released at 3:00 p.m.
_______________ EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
OF WEST VIRGINIA
JOHN R. ZSIGRAY,
Petitioner
v.
CINDY LANGMAN and
J.W. EBERT CORPORATION, D/B/A
“McDONALDS”
Respondents
____________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Gilmer County
The Honorable Richard A. Facemire, Judge
Civil Action No. 16-C-17
AFFIRMED, IN PART, REVERSED, IN PART,
AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS
____________________________________________________________
Submitted: March 4, 2020
Filed: March 27, 2020
William B. Summers, Esq. Robert L. Greer, Esq.
Parkersburg, West Virginia Jonathon W. Fischer, Esq.
Counsel for the Petitioner GREER LAW OFFICES, PLLC
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Counsel for the Respondents
CHIEF JUSTICE ARMSTEAD delivered the Opinion of the Court.
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. “‘The trial court, in appraising the sufficiency of a complaint on a
Rule 12(b)(6) motion, should not dismiss the complaint unless it appears beyond doubt that
the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to
relief.’ Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957).” Syl. Pt.
3, Chapman v. Kane Transfer Co., Inc., 160 W. Va. 530, 236 S.E.2d 207 (1977).
2. “Appellate review of a circuit court’s order granting a motion to
dismiss a complaint is de novo.” Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. McGraw v. Scott Runyan Pontiac-
Buick, Inc., 194 W. Va. 770, 461 S.E.2d 516 (1995).
3. “A circuit court’s entry of summary judgment is reviewed de novo.”
Syl. Pt. 1, Painter v. Peavy, 192 W. Va. 189, 451 S.E.2d 755 (1994).
4. “Summary judgment is appropriate if, from the totality of the evidence
presented, the record could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party,
such as where the nonmoving party has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential
element of the case that it has the burden to prove.” Syl. Pt. 2, Williams v. Precision Coil,
Inc., 194 W. Va. 52, 459 S.E.2d 329 (1995).
5. “The essential elements for a successful defamation action by a
private individual are (1) defamatory statements; (2) a nonprivileged communication to a
third party; (3) falsity; (4) reference to the plaintiff; (5) at least negligence on the part of
the publisher; and (6) resulting injury.” Syl. Pt. 1, Crump v. Beckley Newspapers, Inc., 173
W. Va. 699, 320 S.E.2d 70 (1983).
6. “An adverse expert witness enjoys civil immunity for his/her
testimony and/or participation in judicial proceedings where such testimony and/or
participation are relevant to said judicial proceedings.” Syl. Pt. 2, Wilson v. Bernet, 218 W.
Va. 628, 625 S.E.2d 706 (2005).
7. “Prior to the filing of a prospective judicial proceeding, a party to a
dispute is absolutely privileged to publish defamatory matter about a third person who is
not a party to the dispute only when (1) the prospective judicial action is contemplated in
good faith and is under serious consideration; (2) the defamatory statement is related to the
prospective judicial proceeding; and (3) the defamatory matter is published only to persons
with an interest in the prospective judicial proceeding.” Syl. Pt. 2, Collins vs. Red Roof
Inns, Inc., 211 W. Va. 458, 566 S.E.2d 595 (2002).
8. Judicial fact witnesses enjoy absolute immunity from defamation
claims based on their trial testimony where such testimony is relevant to the judicial
proceeding.
9. “‘The existence or nonexistence of a qualifiedly privileged occasion .
. . in the absence of controversy as to the facts, [is a] question [ ] of law for the court.’ Syl.
pt. 3, Swearingen v. Parkersburg Sentinel Co., 125 W.Va. 731, 26 S.E.2d 209 (1943).” Syl.
Pt. 6, Crump v. Beckley Newspapers, Inc., 173 W. Va. 699, 320 S.E.2d 70 (1983).
10. “Qualified privileges are based upon the public policy that true
information be given whenever it is reasonably necessary for the protection of one’s own
interests, the interests of third persons or certain interests of the public. A qualified
privilege exists when a person publishes a statement in good faith about a subject in which
he has an interest or duty and limits the publication of the statement to those persons who
have a legitimate interest in the subject matter; however, a bad motive will defeat a
qualified privilege defense.” Syl. Pt. 4, Dzinglski v. Weirton Steel Corp., 191 W. Va. 278,
445 S.E.2d 219 (1994).
11. “In order for a plaintiff to prevail on a claim for intentional or reckless
infliction of emotional distress, four elements must be established. It must be shown: (1)
that the defendant’s conduct was atrocious, intolerable, and so extreme and outrageous as
to exceed the bounds of decency; (2) that the defendant acted with the intent to inflict
emotional distress, or acted recklessly when it was certain or substantially certain
emotional distress would result from his conduct; (3) that the actions of the defendant
caused the plaintiff to suffer emotional distress; and, (4) that the emotional distress suffered
by the plaintiff was so severe that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it.”
Syl. Pt. 3, Travis v. Alcon Labs., Inc., 202 W. Va. 369, 504 S.E.2d 419 (1998).
12. “In evaluating a defendant’s conduct in an intentional or reckless
infliction of emotional distress claim, the role of the trial court is to first determine whether
the defendant’s conduct may reasonably be regarded as so extreme and outrageous as to
constitute the intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress. Whether conduct may
reasonably be considered outrageous is a legal question, and whether conduct is in fact
outrageous is a question for jury determination.” Syl. Pt. 4, Travis v. Alcon Labs., Inc., 202
W. Va. 369, 504 S.E.2d 419 (1998).
ARMSTEAD, Chief Justice:
Petitioner John R. Zsigray (“Mr. Zsigray”) filed a civil action against
Respondents Cindy Langman (“Ms. Langman”) and the J.W. Ebert Corporation, d/b/a
“McDonalds,” alleging claims for libel and slander (“defamation”), outrage, and
intentional infliction of emotional distress. The circuit court granted Ms. Langman’s Rule
12(b)(6) motion to dismiss the defamation claim, but allowed Mr. Zsigray’s remaining
claims to go forward. Following discovery, the circuit court granted Ms. Langman’s
summary judgment motion on the outrage and intentional infliction of emotional distress
claims. Mr. Zsigray subsequently filed this appeal.
After review, we affirm the circuit court’s order granting summary judgment
on the outrage and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. We affirm, in part,
and reverse, in part, the circuit court’s order granting Ms. Langman’s motion to dismiss
the defamation claim. We remand this matter to the circuit court for further proceedings
consistent with our ruling herein.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On May 8, 2015, Mr. Zsigray and his wife placed an order at the drive-thru
window at the McDonald’s restaurant in Glenville, West Virginia. Mr. Zsigray asserts that
he ordered a “plain chicken sandwich” but only received a plain chicken patty with no bun.
Upon discovering that he had received a plain chicken patty, Mr. Zsigray returned to the
first drive-thru window, explained that his order was incorrect, and demanded a refund. A
McDonald’s employee directed him to proceed to the second drive-thru window. Ms.
1
Langman, the restaurant’s manager, was at the second window when Mr. Zsigray arrived.
Mr. Zsigray’s description of what occurred at the second window is as follows:
And we pulled to the next window and there Cindy Langman
[was] for whatever reason. And she was trying to give me a
lecture on the sandwich and I didn’t want a lecture on the
sandwich. I asked for a refund. So I called her a stupid f---ing
b---- again and she give me my refund and we left. The next
thing I know, I have a warrant out for arrest for harassment.
Immediately after this incident, Ms. Langman contacted the West Virginia
State Police. West Virginia State Trooper K.J. Varner (“Trooper Varner”) was dispatched
to the restaurant. Trooper Varner’s investigation included both an interview with Ms.
Langman and a written statement that she prepared for him. The investigation revealed
that Mr. Zsigray had been involved in a prior incident at this McDonald’s in which he used
vulgar language toward Ms. Langman and allegedly used a racial epithet toward an
African-American employee 1 over a dispute involving pancake syrup. This earlier incident
occurred a few months prior to the May 2015 incident. In subsequent deposition testimony,
Mr. Zsigray described the pancake syrup incident as follows:
When I got to the window to pick them [pancakes] up,
I asked Cindy Langman – at that time I didn’t know who she
was – if she would give me some extra syrup please, and her
reply was she was tired of giving me extra syrup all the time.
And I like said to myself, “Whoo [sic], who is this woman.”
But anyways, I told her, I said, “Ma’am, I don’t want
you to give me anything, but I do want extra syrup, so put it in
the bag and, if you need to, charge me for it.”
1
Mr. Zsigray denied this allegation.
2
Well, she just went on and on and I told her just give me
back my money. So when she put the money in my hand she
told me not to come back and I just looked at her and called her
a stupid f---ing b---- and drove off.
Ms. Langman told Trooper Varner that Mr. Zsigray used foul language
toward her, and that “she felt very threatened by him and his actions and does not feel safe
with him.” 2 Trooper Varner’s criminal complaint states that he reviewed “the
aforementioned interaction [depicting the chicken sandwich incident] . . . on video
surveillance and observed Mr. Zsigray open the drive-thru window after a worker had
closed it to keep him from yelling into the business.” 3 Based upon Trooper Varner’s
2
Ms. Langman’s written statement provides:
Mr. Zegrey [sic] has been through the store several
times in the past and has had police speak to him in [the] past
about his belligerent behavior and his foul language to me and
my workers.
Today he came through[,] placed his order and received
it. He proceeded to come back and say it was wrong and use
foul language again at my workers and myself. He told me he
wanted his f---ing refund and shut the f--- up. I told him I
would get his money and not to cuss at me or my workers, he
proceeded to say: I f---ing do what I f---ing want and if you
don’t like it, I can come in there and show you how [I] can f--
-ing cuss. I told him to leave and he said he will do what he f-
--ing wants and I can’t stop him from coming in this store if I
want to try, he will make sure I will f---ing know what he can
and can’t do. I feel very threatened by him and his actions and
behavior. I do not feel safe with him.
3
The video surveillance did not include audio.
3
investigation, Mr. Zsigray was charged with criminal harassment pursuant to W. Va. Code
§ 61-2-9a(b). 4 The matter proceeded to a jury trial in magistrate court. Ms. Langman
testified during this trial. The jury found Mr. Zsigray not guilty of criminal harassment.
After the magistrate court trial concluded, Mr. Zsigray filed a complaint
alleging defamation, outrage, and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Ms.
Langman, and her employer, the J.W. Ebert Corporation, d/b/a McDonalds. The
defamation claim was based on 1) Ms. Langman’s oral and written statements to Trooper
Varner, and 2) her testimony during the magistrate court trial. The complaint alleged that
the defendants, Ms. Langman and the J.W. Ebert Corporation, “slandered and libeled the
Plaintiff by intentionally and maliciously making false and misleading statements both
orally and in writing in the public domain and in Court with the intent to damage . . . the
Plaintiff.”
Ms. Langman filed a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss Mr. Zsigray’s lawsuit.
While this motion sought to dismiss the entire lawsuit, it mainly addressed the defamation
claim. Ms. Langman argued that her statements “were not defamatory, they were
privileged communications and they were not false statements.” Further, Ms. Langman
asserted that her statements “are absolutely privileged as they were made to law
W. Va. Code § 61-2-9a(b) provides “(b) Any person who repeatedly harasses or
4
repeatedly makes credible threats against another is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be incarcerated in the county or regional jail for not more than six
months or fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both.”
4
enforcement as a preliminary step to initiation of a judicial action and then to the jury in
the pendency of the judicial action.” Ms. Langman argued that if the circuit court
determined that her statements to Trooper Varner and in the magistrate court trial were not
absolutely privileged, they “are still [entitled to] qualified privilege as they were made by
[Ms. Langman] in an attempt to protect herself, her employees and the Defendant
McDonalds’ interests.”
The circuit court granted Ms. Langman’s motion to dismiss the defamation
claim by order entered on April 17, 2017. The circuit court determined that Ms. Langman’s
statements to Trooper Varner were “made during the institution of a judicial proceeding,
and therefore those statements are . . . absolutely privileged.” The circuit court also found
that Ms. Langman’s “statements made at the [magistrate court] trial were made in the
course of a judicial proceeding and are therefore absolutely privileged.” The circuit court
denied the motion to dismiss on the outrage and intentional infliction of emotional distress
claims, and the case proceeded to discovery.
Following discovery, Ms. Langman filed a motion for summary judgment on
the outrage and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. The circuit court granted
the motion, concluding that
[t]he Court finds that Defendant Langman’s conduct
cannot reasonably be considered so extreme and outrageous as
to constitute the intentional or reckless infliction of emotional
distress. Defendant Langman was working in a public place,
and she had just encountered the plaintiff for a second time,
wherein the plaintiff, by his own admission, for a second time
used inappropriate and aggressive language towards her. It
does not exceed the bounds of decency or offend community
5
notions of acceptable conduct for an individual working in a
restaurant to report an incident with a customer to law
enforcement. Seeking the assistance of law enforcement and
the criminal justice system is not extreme and outrageous
conduct as a matter of law.
Additionally, the court concluded that based on Mr. Zsigray’s own testimony
regarding the incident, “the Court does not find that it [Ms. Langman’s reporting the
incident to the police] was extreme or outrageous.” After the circuit court entered its
summary judgment order on April 20, 2018, Mr. Zsigray filed the instant appeal.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Mr. Zsigray appeals the circuit court’s orders granting Ms. Langman’s 1)
Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss the defamation claim, and 2) summary judgment motion
on the outrage and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. We therefore set
forth our standards of review when considering a circuit court’s ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6)
motion to dismiss and on a summary judgment motion.
This Court has explained that “[t]he purpose of a motion under Rule 12(b)(6)
is to test the formal sufficiency of the complaint.” Collia v. McJunkin, 178 W. Va. 158,
159, 358 S.E.2d 242, 243 (1987) (citations omitted). “‘The trial court, in appraising the
sufficiency of a complaint on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, should not dismiss the complaint
unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his
claim which would entitle him to relief.’ Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct.
99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957).” Syl. Pt. 3, Chapman v. Kane Transfer Co., Inc., 160 W. Va. 530,
236 S.E.2d 207 (1977). “Dismissal for failure to state a claim is proper where it is clear
6
that no relief could be granted under any set of facts that could be proved consistent with
the allegations.” Murphy v. Smallridge, 196 W. Va. 35, 36, 468 S.E.2d 167, 168 (1996)
(Internal quotation omitted.) Further, “[a]ppellate review of a circuit court’s order granting
a motion to dismiss a complaint is de novo.” Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. McGraw v. Scott
Runyan Pontiac-Buick, Inc., 194 W. Va. 770, 461 S.E.2d 516 (1995).
We have held that “[a] circuit court’s entry of summary judgment is reviewed
de novo.” Syl. Pt. 1, Painter v. Peavy, 192 W. Va. 189, 451 S.E.2d 755 (1994). Further,
[s]ummary judgment is appropriate if, from the totality of the
evidence presented, the record could not lead a rational trier of
fact to find for the nonmoving party, such as where the
nonmoving party has failed to make a sufficient showing on an
essential element of the case that it has the burden to prove.
Syl. Pt. 2, Williams v. Precision Coil, Inc., 194 W. Va. 52, 459 S.E.2d 329 (1995). With
these standards as guidance, we proceed to consider the parties’ arguments.
III. ANALYSIS
Mr. Zsigray alleges that the circuit court erred in granting Ms. Langman’s 1)
motion to dismiss the defamation claim, and 2) summary judgment motion on the outrage
and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. We address each argument in turn.
A. Defamation
We first consider the circuit court’s ruling granting Ms. Langman’s motion
to dismiss Mr. Zsigray’s defamation claim. The initial step when assessing a
7
defamation/libel claim 5 is to determine whether the plaintiff is a public or private figure.6
There is no question that Mr. Zsigray is a private figure. This Court set forth the elements
of a defamation action by a private individual in syllabus point one of Crump v. Beckley
Newspapers, Inc., 173 W. Va. 699, 320 S.E.2d 70 (1983): “The essential elements for a
successful defamation action by a private individual are (1) defamatory statements; (2) a
nonprivileged communication to a third party; (3) falsity; (4) reference to the plaintiff; (5)
at least negligence on the part of the publisher; and (6) resulting injury.”
The Court summarized the Crump standard in Bine v. Owens, 208 W. Va.
679, 683, 542 S.E.2d 842, 846 (2000), stating that
to have a defamation claim, a plaintiff must show that false and
defamatory statements were made against him, or relating to
him, to a third party who did not have a reasonable right to
know, and that the statements were made at least negligently
on the part of the party making the statements, and resulted in
injury to the plaintiff.
5
Mr. Zsigray’s defamation action concerns both written and oral allegations. See
Syl. Pt. 8, Greenfield v. Schmidt Baking Co., Inc., 199 W. Va. 447, 485 S.E.2d 391 (1997)
(“Defamation published in written form, as opposed to spoken form, constitutes libel.”).
6
In syllabus point two of State ex rel. Suriano v. Gaughan, 198 W. Va. 339, 480
S.E.2d 548 (1996), this Court held:
Under West Virginia law, a libel plaintiff’s status sets
the standard for assessing the defendant’s conduct. Plaintiffs
who are public officials or public figures must prove by clear
and convincing evidence that the defendants made their
defamatory statement with knowledge that it was false or with
reckless disregard of whether it was false or not. Private figures
need only show that the defendants were negligent in
publishing the false and defamatory statement.
8
Mr. Zsigray’s complaint alleges two distinct instances of defamation: 1) Ms.
Langman’s testimony during Mr. Zsigray’s magistrate court trial, and 2) her oral and
written statements to Trooper Varner during his investigation of the chicken sandwich
incident. The circuit court concluded that Mr. Zsigray could not satisfy the second Crump
element—nonprivileged communication to a third party. It ruled that both of Ms.
Langman’s statements—her trial testimony and her statement to Trooper Varner—are
“absolutely privileged” under our case law. We review each of these rulings.
First, we consider whether the circuit court erred by ruling that Ms.
Langman’s testimony during the magistrate court trial was absolutely privileged. This
Court discussed witness immunity in Davis ex rel. Davis v. Wallace, 211 W. Va. 264, 267,
565 S.E.2d 386, 389 (2002):
The law regarding witness immunity is sparse in West Virginia
. . . Historically, in West Virginia and in other jurisdictions,
witnesses have been regarded as having an absolute immunity
regarding their testimony given during a trial. This immunity
encourages witnesses to speak freely without the specter of
subsequent retaliatory litigation for their good faith testimony.
The immunity was created at common law to shield the
percipient [fact] witness who was called into court to testify as
to what he saw, heard, or did that was relevant to an issue in
the case.
(Emphasis added, internal citation and quotation omitted.) 7
7
A number of courts outside of our jurisdiction have held that judicial witnesses
enjoy absolute immunity from defamation claims based on their trial testimony. In Rioux
v. Barry, 927 A.2d 304, 307-08 (Conn. 2007), Connecticut’s Supreme Court explained that
9
Additionally, in Wilson v. Bernet, 218 W. Va. 628, 625 S.E.2d 706 (2005),
this Court addressed whether the testimony of an adverse expert witness should be
absolutely privileged. The Court held that “[a]n adverse expert witness enjoys civil
immunity for his/her testimony and/or participation in judicial proceedings where such
testimony and/or participation are relevant to said judicial proceedings.” Syl. Pt. 2, Wilson.
In reaching this holding, the Court in Wilson relied on a United States Supreme Court case
[t]he purpose of affording absolute immunity to those who
provide information in connection with judicial and quasi-
judicial proceedings is that in certain situations the public
interest in having people speak freely outweighs the risk that
individuals will occasionally abuse the privilege by making
false and malicious statements. . . . [T]he possibility of
incurring the costs and inconvenience associated with
defending a [retaliatory] suit might well deter a citizen with a
legitimate grievance from filing a complaint. . . . Put simply,
absolute immunity furthers the public policy of encouraging
participation and candor in judicial and quasi-judicial
proceedings. This objective would be thwarted if those persons
whom the common-law doctrine [of absolute immunity] was
intended to protect nevertheless faced the threat of suit.
(Internal citation omitted.) See also Browne v. Saunders, 768 A.2d 467 (Del. 2001)
(Witnesses are absolutely immune from liability at common law for making false or
defamatory statements in judicial proceedings as long as the statements were related to the
proceeding); Doe v. Roe, 295 F. Supp. 3d 664 (E.D. Va. 2018) (In Virginia, a testifying
witness enjoys absolute immunity for any defamatory statements made during a judicial
proceeding, provided those statements are relevant to the subject matter of the proceeding);
Thomas v. State, 294 F. Supp. 3d 576 (N.D. Tex. 2018) (Absolute privilege to parties and
witnesses who participate in judicial proceedings from having to answer civil actions in
damages for libel or slander extends to any statement made by the judge, jurors, counsel,
parties or witnesses, and attaches to all aspects of the proceedings).
10
that discussed the common law history and rationale underlying witness immunity from
civil damages:
Preeminent among such tribunals is the United States Supreme
Court, which addressed the immunity issue in Briscoe v.
LaHue, 460 U.S. 325, 103 S.Ct. 1108, 75 L.Ed.2d 96 (1983).
Reviewing early English and American jurisprudence, the
Court explained that “the common law’s protection for
witnesses is a tradition . . . well grounded in history and
reason.” 460 U.S. at 334, 103 S.Ct. at 1115, 75 L.Ed.2d at 107.
“In short, the common law provided absolute immunity from
subsequent damages liability for all persons . . . who were
integral parts of the judicial process.” 460 U.S. at 335, 103
S.Ct. at 1115-16, 75 L.Ed.2d at 108. Such protection was
deemed to be necessary in order that “the paths which lead to
the ascertainment of truth should be left as free and
unobstructed as possible.” 460 U.S. at 333, 103 S.Ct. at 1114,
75 L.Ed.2d at 106. For this reason, “[t]he common law
recognized that . . . [a]bsolute immunity is . . . necessary to
assure that . . . witnesses can perform their . . . function . . .
without harassment or intimidation.” 460 U.S. at 335, 103 S.Ct.
at 1115, 75 L.Ed.2d at 108. Such immunity traditionally was
conditioned only upon the prerequisite that the witness’s
“statements were relevant to the judicial proceeding” in which
they were made. 460 U.S. at 331, 103 S.Ct. at 1113, 75 L.Ed.2d
at 105.
218 W. Va. at 632-33, 625 S.E.2d at 710-11 (Internal quotations and citation omitted.) 8
8
In Briscoe, the United States Supreme Court recognized that a witness who could
be sued for damages “might be reluctant to come forward to testify. . . . And once a witness
is on the stand, his testimony might be distorted by the fear of subsequent liability.” 460
U.S. 325, 333, 103 S.Ct. 1108, 1114 (1983). Further, the Supreme Court noted that “[a]
witness who knows that he might be forced to defend a subsequent lawsuit, and perhaps to
pay damages, might be inclined to shade his testimony in favor of the potential plaintiff, to
magnify uncertainties, and thus to deprive the finder of fact of candid, objective, and
undistorted evidence.” Id. Based on these concerns, the Supreme Court concluded that
“the truth-finding process is better served if the witness’ testimony is submitted to the
11
In Collins vs. Red Roof Inns, Inc., 211 W. Va. 458, 566 S.E.2d 595 (2002),
this Court considered whether a party to a prospective lawsuit is absolutely privileged to
publish defamatory material about a third person. The Court, relying on the Restatement
(Second) of Torts § 587 (1977), 9 answered the question in the affirmative and held that
[p]rior to the filing of a prospective judicial proceeding,
a party to a dispute is absolutely privileged to publish
defamatory matter about a third person who is not a party to
the dispute only when (1) the prospective judicial action is
contemplated in good faith and is under serious consideration;
(2) the defamatory statement is related to the prospective
judicial proceeding; and (3) the defamatory matter is published
only to persons with an interest in the prospective judicial
proceeding.
Syl. Pt. 2, Collins.
While the Court in Collins did not address the precise factual scenario before
us—a fact witness making an allegedly defamatory statement about a party to a lawsuit
during her trial testimony—its holding is instructive to the instant case. The Court in
crucible of the judicial process so that the factfinder may consider it, after cross-
examination, together with the other evidence in the case to determine where the truth lies.”
460 U.S. at 333-34, 103 S.Ct. at 1114-15, 75 L.Ed.2d at 106-07 (Internal quotation and
citation omitted.)
9
The Restatement (Second) of Torts § 587 provides, in relevant part:
A party to private litigation . . . is absolutely privileged to
publish defamatory matter concerning another in
communications preliminary to a proposed judicial
proceeding, or in the institution of or during the course and as
a part of, a judicial proceeding in which he participates, if the
matter has some relation to the proceeding.
12
Collins noted that, in general, absolute privilege attaches to a party in a judicial proceeding
“based upon the public interest of encouraging access to the court system while facilitating
the truth-seeking process therein.” 211 W. Va. at 464, 566 S.E.2d at 601 (Internal citation
omitted.) We find this rationale applies equally to the present case.
Further, as in Collins, we find guidance on this issue in the Restatement
(Second) of Torts. It provides “[a] witness is absolutely privileged to publish defamatory
matter concerning another in communications preliminary to a proposed judicial
proceeding or as a part of a judicial proceeding in which he is testifying, if it has some
relation to the proceeding.” Restatement (Second) of Torts § 588 (1977) (Emphasis added.)
One comment to § 588 provides the rationale for this rule:
a. The function of witnesses is of fundamental importance in
the administration of justice. The final judgment of the tribunal
must be based upon the facts as shown by their testimony, and
it is necessary therefore that a full disclosure not be hampered
by fear of private suits for defamation. The compulsory
attendance of all witnesses in judicial proceedings makes the
protection thus accorded the more necessary. The witness is
subject to the control of the trial judge in the exercise of the
privilege. For abuse of it, he may be subject to criminal
prosecution for perjury and to punishment for contempt.
This Court has also addressed absolute privilege in the context of a lawyer
disciplinary proceeding. Rule 2.7 of the West Virginia Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary
Procedure provides
[a]ll information provided, documents filed or testimony given
with respect to any complaint, investigation or proceeding
under these rules shall be privileged in any action for
defamation. All members of the Board, of the Lawyer
Committee on Assistance and Intervention, Disciplinary
13
Counsel, and their employees, shall be absolutely immune
from civil suit in the same manner as members of the judiciary
in this State for any conduct in the course of their official
duties.
In Farber v. Dale, 182 W. Va. 784, 787, 392 S.E.2d 224, 227 (1990), this
Court ruled that “a defendant who has been sued for libel as a result of testimony given
before the West Virginia State Bar Legal Ethics Committee is entitled to absolute immunity
from such suit, as provided by Article VI, Section 43 of the West Virginia State Bar
Constitution.”
Based on all of the foregoing, including our prior case law, the Supreme
Court’s ruling in Briscoe, and the Restatement (Second) of Torts, we hold that judicial fact
witnesses enjoy absolute immunity from defamation claims based on their trial testimony
where such testimony is relevant to the judicial proceeding. 10 Therefore, we agree with the
10
As previously discussed, this Court held in syllabus point two of Wilson that an
adverse expert witness enjoys civil immunity for their testimony in a judicial proceeding
where such testimony is relevant to the judicial proceeding. 218 W. Va. 628, 625 S.E.2d
706. The Court in Wilson cautioned that “[i]n rendering this ruling, we do not, however,
address those circumstances in which an expert witness’s testimony or participation in
judicial proceedings may constitute criminal activity insofar as Dr. Wilson has not alleged
in his underlying civil action that any of the defendants’ actions rise to the level of criminal
conduct.” 218 W. Va. at 635, 625 S.E.2d at 713. Likewise, we note that our ruling herein
addresses the facts of the present case—a fact witness facing a defamation claim based on
her trial testimony. We echo comment a. to § 588 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts
which provides that “[t]he witness is subject to the control of the trial judge in the exercise
of the privilege. For abuse of it, he [or she] may be subject to criminal prosecution for
perjury and to punishment for contempt.”
14
circuit court’s ruling that Ms. Langman’s testimony during the magistrate court trial is
entitled to absolute immunity from Mr. Zsigray’s defamation claim.
Next, we review the circuit court’s ruling that Ms. Langman’s statements to
Trooper Varner, made during his investigation of the chicken sandwich incident, were also
absolutely privileged. The circuit court explained that these statements were “made during
the institution of a judicial proceeding, and therefore those statements are . . . absolutely
privileged.” We disagree with the circuit court’s ruling and conclude that Ms. Langman’s
statements made to Trooper Varner during his investigation are potentially entitled to
qualified privilege, rather than absolute privilege.
We have previously held that “‘[t]he existence or nonexistence of a
qualifiedly privileged occasion . . . in the absence of controversy as to the facts, [is a]
question [ ] of law for the court.’ Syl. pt. 3, Swearingen v. Parkersburg Sentinel Co., 125
W.Va. 731, 26 S.E.2d 209 (1943).” Syl. Pt. 6, Crump, 173 W. Va. 699, 320 S.E.2d 70.
This Court further addressed qualified privilege in syllabus point four of Dzinglski v.
Weirton Steel Corp., 191 W. Va. 278, 445 S.E.2d 219 (1994):
Qualified privileges are based upon the public policy
that true information be given whenever it is reasonably
necessary for the protection of one’s own interests, the interests
of third persons or certain interests of the public. A qualified
privilege exists when a person publishes a statement in good
faith about a subject in which he has an interest or duty and
limits the publication of the statement to those persons who
have a legitimate interest in the subject matter; however, a bad
motive will defeat a qualified privilege defense.
15
Qualified privileges have been recognized in a number of situations,
including the discharge of a public duty, reports of public proceedings, and “fair comment
on matters of public concern.” Crump, 173 W. Va. at 707, 320 S.E.2d at 78 (Citations
omitted.) “Although motive is irrelevant when an absolute privilege is involved, a bad
motive will defeat a qualified privilege defense.” Id. 11
In a case similar to the present matter, Wal-Mart was sued for defamation by
a customer after an employee contacted the police based on the belief that the customer
may have been engaging in a fraudulent scheme. The Court in Belcher v. Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc., 211 W.Va. 712, 568 S.E.2d 19 (2002), determined that qualified privilege attached to
the employee’s statement to the police officer. The Court explained that
[t]he Wal-Mart employees recognized a legitimate need to
investigate a suspicious receipt in the context of the ongoing
investigation into the theft of a similar computer from a
Pennsylvania store by the use of a falsified receipt obtained
from the Nitro store. The receipt used in the Pennsylvania
connivance had been obtained from the Nitro store on the same
date as the Appellant’s receipt and was for the same item.
Under those circumstances, we find that the communication to
the police officer was privileged and such communication does
not subject Wal-Mart to liability for defamation.
211 W. Va. at 720, 568 S.E.2d at 27.
11
In addition to a bad motive, the Court in Crump noted four instances in which a
qualified privilege may be defeated: 1) an intentional publication of false defamatory
material; 2) a publication of false defamatory material in reckless disregard for its truth or
falsity; 3) a publication of false defamatory material made to persons who have no reason
to receive the information; and 4) a publication of false defamatory material with a primary
purpose unrelated to the purpose of the privilege. 173 W. Va. at 707, 320 S.E.2d at 78.
16
As in Belcher, Ms. Langman asserts that her statements were entitled to
qualified privilege because they were made in good faith about a subject in which she had
an interest (her safety), and they were limited to the person who had a legitimate interest
in the subject, Trooper Varner. We agree with Ms. Langman that her statements to Trooper
Varner are potentially entitled to qualified privilege. However, we find that the circuit
court erred by granting the motion to dismiss on the defamation claim regarding Ms.
Langman’s statements to Trooper Varner.
Mr. Zsigray’s complaint alleged that Ms. Langman “slandered and libeled
the Plaintiff by intentionally and maliciously making false and misleading statements both
orally and in writing in the public domain . . . with the intent to damage . . . the Plaintiff”
(Emphasis added.) For purposes of Ms. Langman’s motion to dismiss, the circuit court
was required to construe the complaint “in the light most favorable to plaintiff, and its
allegations are to be taken as true.” Lodge Distrib. Co., Inc. v. Texaco, Inc., 161 W. Va.
603, 605, 245 S.E.2d 157, 158 (1978). Because Mr. Zsigray’s complaint alleged that Ms.
Langman had a bad motive (“maliciously making false and misleading statements”) when
making her statements to Trooper Varner, his complaint included sufficient allegations to
withstand a motion to dismiss on this portion of the defamation claim. We therefore reverse
the circuit court’s order granting Ms. Langman’s motion to dismiss the defamation claim
regarding the statements she made to Trooper Varner during his investigation. We remand
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this matter to the circuit court for further proceedings on this aspect of the defamation
claim. 12
B. Outrage/Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims
Mr. Zsigray’s final assignment of error is that the circuit court erred by
granting Ms. Langman’s motion for summary judgment on the outrage and intentional
infliction of emotional distress claims. After review, we find no error with the circuit
court’s ruling.
The circuit court correctly treated Mr. Zsigray’s allegations of outrage and
intentional infliction of emotional distress as a single claim. 13 This Court set forth the
12
Because discovery has already taken place, we leave it to the circuit court to
determine whether additional discovery on this specific issue is necessary on remand. To
be clear, our ruling that the circuit court erred by granting the motion to dismiss on this
aspect of the defamation claim does not preclude Ms. Langman from seeking summary
judgment on this issue. We note that the Court in Belcher found that the employee’s report
to the police was entitled to qualified privilege after discovery occurred and after Wal-Mart
filed a motion for summary judgment. If a summary judgment motion is filed, the circuit
court will need to determine whether there is any evidentiary support for Mr. Zsigray’s
allegation that Ms. Langman had a bad motive when giving her statements to Trooper
Varner. If the circuit court concludes that there is no evidentiary support for this allegation,
Ms. Langman would be entitled to qualified immunity, and summary judgment would be
appropriate.
13
See Beasley v. Mayflower Vehicle Sys., Inc., No. 13-0978, 2014 WL 2681689(W.Va. June 13, 2014) (Memorandum Decision) (Intentional infliction of emotional
distress is also known as the tort of outrage); Whitehair v. Highland Memory Gardens, Inc.,
174 W.Va. 458, 460, 327 S.E.2d 438, 440 (1985) (The intentional infliction of emotional
distress is sometimes known as the tort of outrage). See also, Syl. Pt. 6, in part, Harless v.
First Nat’l Bank in Fairmont, 169 W. Va. 673, 289 S.E.2d 692 (1982) (“One who by
extreme and outrageous conduct intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional
distress to another is subject to liability for such emotional distress[.]”).
18
required showing a plaintiff must make to prevail on a claim of intentional infliction of
emotional distress in syllabus point three of Travis v. Alcon Labs., Inc., 202 W. Va. 369,
504 S.E.2d 419 (1998):
In order for a plaintiff to prevail on a claim for
intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress, four
elements must be established. It must be shown: (1) that the
defendant’s conduct was atrocious, intolerable, and so extreme
and outrageous as to exceed the bounds of decency; (2) that the
defendant acted with the intent to inflict emotional distress, or
acted recklessly when it was certain or substantially certain
emotional distress would result from his conduct; (3) that the
actions of the defendant caused the plaintiff to suffer emotional
distress; and, (4) that the emotional distress suffered by the
plaintiff was so severe that no reasonable person could be
expected to endure it.
The Court in Travis addressed a circuit court’s initial role when assessing a
defendant’s conduct in an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim:
In evaluating a defendant’s conduct in an intentional or
reckless infliction of emotional distress claim, the role of the
trial court is to first determine whether the defendant’s conduct
may reasonably be regarded as so extreme and outrageous as
to constitute the intentional or reckless infliction of emotional
distress. Whether conduct may reasonably be considered
outrageous is a legal question, and whether conduct is in fact
outrageous is a question for jury determination.
Syl. Pt. 4.
This Court has provided that the conduct giving rise to an action for
intentional infliction of emotional distress has been described as being
so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go
beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as
atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.
Generally, the case is one in which the recitation of the facts to
19
an average member of the community would arouse his
resentment against the actor, and lead him to exclaim,
“Outrageous!”
Tanner v. Rite Aid of W. Va., Inc., 194 W. Va. 643, 651, 461 S.E.2d 149, 157 (1995)
(quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46(1) Comment (d) (1965)).
Guided by the foregoing, the circuit court in the instant case concluded that:
Defendant Langman’s conduct cannot reasonably be
considered so extreme and outrageous as to constitute the
intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress.
Defendant Langman was working in a public place, and she
had just encountered the plaintiff for a second time, wherein
the plaintiff, by his own admission, for a second time used
inappropriate and aggressive language towards her. It does not
exceed the bounds of decency or offend community notions of
acceptable conduct for an individual working in a restaurant to
report an incident with a customer to law enforcement.
Seeking the assistance of law enforcement and the criminal
justice system is not extreme and outrageous conduct as a
matter of law.
We agree with the circuit court’s analysis and conclusion. Mr. Zsigray
admitted that on two occasions, he complained about his order at McDonalds, was
promptly given a refund, and then directed vulgar language at Ms. Langman. Further, Mr.
Zsigray admitted that Ms. Langman never directed any vulgar language toward him.
Instead, after the second time Mr. Zsigray directed vulgar language at her, Ms. Langman
reported the incident to the police, an investigation occurred, and Trooper Varner
determined that Mr. Zsigray should be charged with criminal harassment.
We find that Mr. Zsigray’s allegations fall far short of the required showing
a plaintiff must make to demonstrate that a defendant’s conduct may reasonably be
20
regarded as so extreme and outrageous as to constitute the intentional or reckless infliction
of emotional distress. We therefore affirm the circuit court’s order granting Ms.
Langman’s summary judgment motion on the outrage and intentional infliction of
emotional distress claims.
IV. CONCLUSION
We affirm the circuit court’s April 20, 2018, order granting summary
judgment on the outrage and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. We affirm,
in part, and reverse, in part, the circuit court’s April 17, 2017, order granting Ms.
Langman’s motion to dismiss the defamation claim. We remand this matter to the circuit
court for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion.
Affirmed, in part, reversed, in part, and remanded with directions.
21