Junior Partners Katherine E. McKinley and Zachary J. Brewer obtained a full defense verdict on April 24, 2024 in a defamation case styled Plaintiff v. YMCA, et al. Plaintiff was the 62 year old male chair of the board of advisors for a camp and one of the Defendants was a 20 year old female waterfront director of the camp. Defendant reported Plaintiff for kissing her on the face, making inappropriate jokes, and holding her inappropriately on a jet ski ride. The camp terminated Plaintiff’s volunteer status. Plaintiff sued the Defendants alleging his father’s death was the result of alleged defamation and sought damages for the loss of his father.  

 Plaintiff asserted that Defendant completely fabricated her complaints out of a political disagreement and/or to seek leverage in her employment. In arguments, Plaintiff blamed Defendant for the death of his father by suicide two months later and ultimately asked the jury to hold Defendants responsible for his father’s death, as well as alleged severe and permanent mental anguish, with physical manifestations.  

 The Court granted directed verdict to two Defendants. Plaintiff proceeded solely against two others. Following closing arguments, the jury deliberated for less than two hours and returned a complete Defense verdict establishing that Defendant had not defamed Plaintiff with her reports of sexual harassment.  Read More