Doctor settles defamation claim with one defendant

MORGANTOWN - A partial dismissal order has been filed in a lawsuit alleging three individuals made false and defamatory statements to third parties about a Morgantown man.

The plaintiff and defendant Anoop Shankar announced to the court that all matters of controversy against Shankar have been compromised and settled, pursuant to settlement negotiations, according to a Partial Dismissal Order filed in Monongalia Circuit Court.

The plaintiff and Shankar jointly moved the court for dismissal of the action, only as the action relates to Shankar, with prejudice.

On Aug. 24, 2012, and on other dates, Shankar, Deeban Ganesan and Srinivas Teppala made false and defamatory oral and written statements against Dr. Ian Rockett, according to a complaint filed Nov. 30, 2012, in Monongalia Circuit Court.

Rockett claimed the defamatory statements were non-privileged communications to a third party, were false, made references to him and were at least negligent on the part of the defendants, resulting in injury.

The defendants knew the statements were fabricated and false at the time they made them, according to the suit, and damaged Rockett’s reputation, character and integrity.

Rockett claimed he was humiliated, distressed and outraged by the false and defamatory statements.

The defendants agreed to fabricate, publish and corroborate the false and defamatory statements to third parties, according to the suit, and, as a result of the agreement and following through with the agreement, Rockett’s character and integrity have been called into question and placed into jeopardy.

Rockett claimed the defendants intentionally or recklessly inflected emotional distress upon him.

Rockett is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Bader C. Giggenbach.

Shankar was represented by Andrew G. Fusco.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Phillip D. Gaujot.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 12-C-825