Khdrlaryan

INTRODUCTION

Lusik Khdrilaryan (plaintiff) appeals a summary judgment in favor of Olympia

Health Care, LLC dba Olympia Medical Center (Center) and the “Medical Staff of

Olympia Medical Center” (collectively, defendants). She contends that the evidence

creates a triable issue of fact as to whether defendants terminated her employment as

a respiratory therapist because of her complaints about safety issues at the hospital. She

also contends that summary judgment of her defamation cause of action was in error

because the subject statement was false. We disagree and affirm.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff began to work as a respiratory therapist for the Center in June 2000.

She was supervised by Isaac Addo. Jim Petronie was the manager of her department.

On multiple occasions throughout her employment, plaintiff complained to Addo,

Petronie, and representatives of the human resources department about (1) being asked

to handle billing-related tasks, (2) inadequate medical equipment at the Center, and

(3) the excessive workload assigned to respiratory therapists. Addo told plaintiff, “if

you keep complaining like this, one day you will get fired.”

On March 22, 2009,…