Police chief's defamation action is summarily dismissed by Court of Appeals
In Truchan v. Charter Twp. of Adrian, the former Chief of Police sued the township advisory committee chairman and supervisor for tortious interference with his job and for defamation and invasion of privacy, after the defendant chairman sent memoranda expressing his "concerns" about the plaintiff. When the chief refused to meet with the committee about the "concerns," he was terminated. The Court of Appeals judges concluded that since the chairman was a volunteer and acted in good faith and without malice, he was entitled to immunity from the Chief's lawsuit. The appellate judges also reversed the lower court and granted summary disposition against his claim that the township supervisor had violated the law by creating an employment file for the purpose of encouraging a FOIA request into the Chief's employment.