Facts

In 2012, CalCoastNews published an article titled "Hazardous waste chief skirts law." The article stated that Charles Tenborg, an environmental scientist, had illegally received a no-bid contract in violation of state law, had illegally transported hazardous waste, and had encouraged clients to break the law. The article also stated that Tenborg had been fired from job with the county.

Tenborg sued the newspaper, the newspaper's owner Karen Velie, and Senior Correspondent Daniel Blackburn for defamation. The case proceeded to trial after the court denied defendants' anti-SLAPP motion.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff contended that the article was defamatory, malicious and false and that defendants refused to retract it. Plaintiff contended that the article damaged his reputation, forcing him to sell his business for much less than it was worth.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants contended that the allegations against plaintiff would have been proven in later articles.

Result

The jury unanimously found the article was false and defamatory, and returned a verdict for plaintiff, awarding him $1.1 million, which included $500,000 in punitive damages.