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Cooper-Bridges v. Ingle6/24/2004
Vivian A. Cooper-Bridges, a former employee of the Sumter County's Sheriff's Office (the "Department"), appeals the trial court's grant of summary judgment to Robert Ingle, the current sheriff of Sumter County, in her action for slander. Cooper-Bridges's claim arises out of her assertion that Sheriff Ingle publicly disclosed that he did not hire her because she was inebriated when he met her. We affirm.
In reviewing grants of summary judgment, this court conducts a de novo review of the law and the evidence. To prevail at summary judgment under OCGA ยง 9-11-56, the moving party must demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the undisputed facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, warrant judgment as a matter of law.
So viewed, the evidence shows that Cooper-Bridges was employed as a jailer with the Department from 1997 to 2000. On or about December 28, 2000, Cooper-Bridges was informed that her employment would be terminated at midnight on December 31, 2000, when appellee's predecessor's term as sheriff ended. Appellee Ingle, who became Sumter County's Sheriff at 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2001, had previously extended an offer to the majority of the Department's employees, including Cooper-Bridges, to continue to work under his administration. Sheriff Ingle held a swearing-in ceremony for his new employees on the evening of December 31, 2000, which Cooper-Bridges attended.
Sheriff Ingle averred that shortly before midnight, Sergeant Andy King approached him and advised him to speak with Cooper-Bridges because he thought that she was intoxicated; that he introduced himself to Cooper-Bridges and observed signs of intoxication; that he asked Chief Deputy Whitehead to escort Cooper-Bridges to his office; and that after swearing-in his employees, he returned to his office and informed Cooper-Bridges that she would not be hired. Sergeant King and Chief Deputy Whitehead both averred that Cooper-Bridges appeared to be intoxicated that evening. Cooper Bridges averred that she was not intoxicated; that Sheriff Ingle told her that he had simply decided not to hire her; and that he also told her that she could get unemployment.
Cooper-Bridges applied for unemployment benefits with the Department of Labor ("DOL") on January 2, 2001. The DOL requested that Sheriff Ingle provide information regarding Cooper-Bridges's employment by January 12, 2001. Sheriff Ingle complied, completing form and returning it to the DOL on January 12, 2001. In response to questions on the form pertaining to the circumstances of the discharge, Sheriff Ingle attached a memo in which he stated:
Ms. Bridges came to the Law Enforcement Center at midnight on 31 December 2000 along with other former employees of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. At the time the new sheriff was preparing to swear in his new employees, Ms. Bridges was intoxicated. She was escorted aside by the Chief Deputy and following the swearing in ceremonies, Ms. Bridges was advised that she would not be employed by the new sheriff.
The DOL awarded Cooper-Bridges $274 in weekly unemployment benefits, which it charged to the Department. Sheriff Ingle appealed the DOL's decision on January 26, 2001, stating again that Cooper-Bridges was terminated because she reported to work intoxicated. Cooper-Bridges won the appeal.
On January 17, 2001, The Sumter Free Press reported on the unemployment applications of several former employees of the Department, including Cooper-Bridges. Regarding Cooper-Bridges, the article quoted verbatim from the memo submitted by Sheriff Ingle to DOL on January 12 regarding the reason that she was not hired. A second article
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