Filed April 14, 2011
“The essentials of a cause of action for libel or slander must be stated in the complaint, including allegations as to the particular defamatory words complained of, the connection of the defamatory words with the plaintiff where such words are not clear or are ambiguous, and the publication of the alleged defamatory words.” Pursell v. Wolverine-Pentronix, Inc., 44 Mich. Ct. App. 416, 421, 205 N.W.2d 504, 507 (1973) (quoting 11 Callaghan's Mich. Pleading & Practice (2d ed.) § 78.09); see also Williams, 523 F. Supp. 2d at 606 (E.D. Mich. 2007) (“A plaintiff must plead his defamation claim with specificity, and cannot rely on general, conclusory allegations”).
Filed July 22, 2016
Ct. 2012) (holding that a school principal was a public official) (attached as Ex. 118 to the McNamara Declaration); Williams v. Detroit Bd. of Educ., 523 F. Supp. 2d 602, 608-09 (E.D. Mich. 2007) (finding public school principal to be a public official), aff’d, 306 F. App’x 943 (6th Cir. 2009); Johnson v. Robbinsdale Indep. Sch.
Filed July 8, 2016
” Id. (emphasis added) (citing Williams v. Detroit Bd. of Educ., 523 F. Supp. 2d 602, 606 (E.D. Mich. 2007)). Critically, “[t]he essentials of a cause of action for [defamation] must be stated in the complaint . . . .”