Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Defamation
(Court opinion corrected 2/19/14.)Court properly denied motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint for defamation. Defendant's allegedly defamatory statements, made in course of reporting her suspicion of inappropriate "rent a cop scheme" of police officers on election day. Police department, in carrying out direction of superintendent in manner described in allegations, is a quasi-judicial body, and Defendant alleged that Plaintiffs had engaged in criminal conduct. Thus, Defendant's allegations were made to police superintendent for purpose of instituting criminal proceedings against Plaintiffs, to which absolute privilege applies. (HOFFMAN and DELORT, concurring.)