Justices side with newspaper, letter writer in defamation suit

The Vermont Supreme Court. From left, Justices Harold Eaton, Marilyn Skoglund, Paul Reiber and Beth Robinson. Pool file photo by April McCullum/Burlington Free PressFive days before the 2016 general election, The Northfield News published a letter to the editor about a Vermont House candidate’s criminal history, academic troubles and alleged “disruptive behavior” at local businesses.
That candidate, Democrat Gordon Bock, lost the race and subsequently sued the newspaper and the