Appointees Overseeing 250-Year US Jubilee Avoid Defamation Claim

Three members of the commission created by Congress tasked with preparing for the celebration of US’ 250th anniversary are immune from a suit alleging they defamed the original chairman and executive director, the Third Circuit said.

At the time of the alleged statements about the chairperson and executive director, Daniel DiLella and Frank Giordano, commission members Andrew Hohns, Noah Griffin, and James Swanson were “federal employees” protected by sovereign immunity under the Westfall and Federal Tort Claims Acts, Judge Cheryl Ann Krause said Tuesday for the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

The commission is a federal agency ...