West Virginia Jury Finds Official Defamed Employee Over Internet

A former Jefferson County employee has won a lawsuit that accused a county commissioner of defaming him with an Internet posting.

Media outlets report that the jury ordered County Commissioner Patsy Noland to pay George Privitera $3,700 in compensatory damages and $1,300 in punitive damages. The decision came after less than an hour of deliberations.

Privitera’s lawsuit said Noland defamed him by criticizing his job performance in a posting on a local electronic mailing list.

The lawsuit sought $70,000 in damages. But Privitera’s attorney, Harry Waddell, said he and his client were happy with the verdict.

Noland said she’s relieved that the case is over. The county’s insurance will pay the damages.