Mayor brought action against village for gender discrimination, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and conspiracy. During a jury trial, the Court of Common Pleas granted village’s motion for a directed verdict. Mayor appealed.
The Court of Appeals held that:
- The Court of Common Pleas did not impermissibly weigh evidence in granting motion;
- Evidence was insufficient to support prima facie case of gender discrimination;
- Evidence did not support actual malice element of defamation claim;
- Alleged conduct was not extreme and outrageous as required to support intentional infliction of emotional distress claim; and
- Mayor failed to bring viable primary claims as required to support derivative claims.