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M. Louis Offen v. Alan I. Brenner Misc. No. 1, September Term, 2007. LIBEL AND SLANDER - PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS - ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS: Where a statement serves to initiate an administrative proceeding, the defamed employee's duties and authority are a factor in considering whether the nature of the public function of the proceeding is sufficient to warrant the extension of an absolute privilege. TORTS - DEFAMATION LAW - ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS - NATURE OF THE PUBLIC FUNCTION OF THE PROCEEDING: A defamed employee's duties and authority are relevant to, but not dispositive of, the nature of the public function of an administrative proceeding when determining whether an absolute privilege applies to statements that initiate the proceeding.

On Ce rtification from the U.S. C ourt of A ppeals for the Fourth Circuit Case No. 05-2337 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND Misc. N o. 1 September Term, 2007

M. Louis Offen v. Alan I. Brenner

Bell, C.J. Raker Harrell Battaglia Greene Wilne r, Alan, M . (Retired, specially assigned) Cathell, Dale R. (Retired, specially assigned), JJ.

Opinio n by Rak er, J.

Filed: November 14, 2007

Pursuant to the Maryland Uniform Certification of Questions of Law Act, Md. Code (1974, 2006 Repl. Vol.),

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