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Police officer cannot sue Township Board and employees for defamation
Michael McCarthy sued the Brownstown Township and two Township officers, alleging that they defamed him while investigating incidents of preferential law enforcement and that McCarthy had abused his badge. He also alleged that the Defendants were part of a conspiracy against him. The Court of Appeals held that the defendants were immune from liability for any defamatory or injurious impact of their investigation, since they were performing a governmental function at the time of their actions. Citizen complaints regarding alleged alcohol abuse and preferential treatment had been raised and the Defendants acted, without malice, to investigate these claims.