7th Circuit: Unusual Defamation Suit Puts Employers On Guard

Corporate Legal Times

An unusual case filed in Illinois against CNA Financial brings contents of employees' HR files, performance reviews and intraoffice memos under the scope of defamation law. Most companies operate under assumptions that intracorporate documents are privileged and therefore outside the scope of defamation law. But on Jan. 21, a jury disagreed; not all internal communications are going to be immune from defamation claims. Littler's Paul Bateman calls the decision a big wake-up call for employers.