Torts-Defamation-Reputational Damage

Staff Report//January 29, 2026//

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Plaintiff appealed the grant of directed verdicts to defendants in plaintiff’s defamation lawsuit. Plaintiff was involved in separate romantic relationships with defendants. After those relationships ended, defendants told others that plaintiff had sexually assaulted them. The trial court granted defendants’ motions for directed verdicts, finding that plaintiff failed to present independent evidence showing that his reputation was damaged by defendants’ statements.

Where there was no requirement for a defamation plaintiff to submit evidence beyond their testimony to establish reputational damages, plaintiff’s testimony about being forced out of his home and shared working space due to defendants’ statements could provide sufficient evidence of reputational damage.

Judgment is affirmed in part and vacated and remanded in part.

Apperson v. Kaminsky (MLW No. 84281/Case No. SC101020 – 16 pages) (Supreme Court of Missouri, Wilson, J.) Appealed from circuit court, St. Louis County, Vincent, J. (John D. Kershman and Maximilian J. Mueller, Clayton and Justin K. Gelfand, St. Louis for appellant) (John M. Reeves, St. Louis for respondents)