THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Supreme Court

G. Robert George and G. Robert George & Associates, Inc., Appellants,
 

v.

Margaret D. Fabri, Respondent.  

Appeal From Charleston County
A. Victor Rawl, Circuit Court Judge

Opinion No. 25311
Heard May 8, 2001 - Filed June 25, 2001

AFFIRMED

Charles J. Baker, III, of Buist, Moore, Smythe & McGee, P.A., of Charleston, for appellants.

Armand Derfner and D. Peters Wilborn, Jr., of Derfner & Wilborn, LLC, of Charleston, for respondent.

JUSTICE WALLER: Appellants G. Robert George (George) and G. Robert George and Associates, Inc. (GRGA) appeal from the grant of summary judgment to respondent Margaret D. Fabri (Fabri). We affirm.

FACTS

This is a defamation case. In November 1997, Fabri and George opposed each other as candidates for the James Island District 12 seat on the Charleston City Council. In the first election, Fabri won by one vote. This election was set aside due to a poll worker's error. George won the second election. The allegations of defamation relate to statements Fabri made in between the two elections.

The statements were published on Fa