The Valparaíso Guarantee Court ruled this Thursday to dismiss the defamation lawsuit filed by former regional health official Lorena Cofré. The legal action followed a series of accusations made against the former health authority in the wake of journalist Sol Millakura's death.
The court ruled in favor of the union leaders accused of making the comments and statements against Cofré, basing its decision on the principle of freedom of expression.
Appeal and potential for oral trial
Despite the dismissal, the plaintiff's attorney, Felipe González, announced plans to appeal the decision to the Valparaíso Court of Appeals. González accused the court of granting a "pseudo-immunity" to the union leaders involved.
"The court has based its decision on the premise that there is a license to attack people's dignity without any legal accountability. We categorically reject this interpretation," González stated in a press release.
Criminal defense attorney Ernesto Muñoz noted that if the appeals court upholds the challenge, the case could proceed to an oral trial.
Impact on former official's career
Cofré's defense maintains that the defamatory remarks made by the leadership of FEDASAP and FENATS in the Valparaíso Region caused irreparable damage to her reputation. According to a statement from her legal team, these accusations were disseminated through the official communication channels of the aforementioned unions.
The affected party asserts that the severity of these attacks ultimately forced her resignation from her position as Regional Seremi of Health. The court's ruling is now subject to review by a higher court to determine the legal liability of the union leaders.
