Briefly In Public Safety

Judge postpones slander suit hearing

A superior court judge on Tuesday postponed a hearing to dismiss portions of a local eatery’s pending $2-million slander suit against a Glendale couple.

Owners of the Montrose Collection say that Glendale residents Robert and Sharon Thompson, who live adjacent to the eatery, hurt business by complaining to neighbors and city officials about banquet hall activities. They said the banquet hall activities were illegal at the restaurant.

The complaint alleges that the Thompsons committed slander and inflicted emotional distress on the business owners, said attorney Robert Miller, who is representing the Thompsons. The complaint also requests an injunction on the couple from repeating their allegedly slanderous communications, Miller said.

Miller has filed a series of motions to dismiss the suit, he said.

Judge Ruth Kwan postponed a hearing to consider the motions until March 27.