Hermann v. Bradstreet Co.

Ellison, J. This is an action of libel, the petition being as follows: “Plaintiff complains of defendant and for cause of action says: Defendant is a corporation organized and incorporated under the laws of the state of New York, and is the owner and publisher of a newspaper called Bradstreet’s, a journal of trade, finance, and public economy, which newspaper said defendant printed in the city of New York, in the state of New York, and caused to be circulated and published in the city of St. Joseph, in this county, where plaintiff resides and carries on his trade and business, and also in the region of country surrounding St. Joseph, whose trade and commerce is tributary to said city of St. Joseph. That on the fifth day of August, A. D., 1882, there was published in said newspaper of and concerning plaintiff, the following false, defamatory and malicious libel, to-wit: “St. Joseph. — Joseph Hermann, brick-maker, is in the hands of the sheriff,” whereby the plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of ten thousand dollars, for which he asks judgment.” — 230 — The trial resulted in a verdict for plaintiff for six hundred dollars, and defendant appeals. Defendant asks for a reversal for the reason, among others: 1. That the words charged are not libelous per se. 2. That plaintiff was permitted to testify against defendant’s objection as to what business he was engaged. 3. As to trouble he had with his partner, concerning the loss of the sale of three or four hundred thousand brick “ to a man in Leavenworth.” 4. Concerning the loss of one sale in Iowa. Though not arriving.at the conclusion without some hesitation, we, are of opinion the words printed are libelous per se. The presumption that words are defamatory arises much more easily in cases of libel than in cases of slander. Many words which, if printed and published, would be presumed to have injured the plaintiff’s reputation, will not be actionable per se, if merely spoken. The following are reasons given by Odgers on Libel and Slander, p. 3, for the distinction: “ Vox emissa volat; litera seripta manet. The written or printed matter is permanent, and no one can tell into whose hands it may come. Every one can now read. ' The circulation of a newspaper is enormous, especially if it be known to contain libelous matter. And even a private letter may turn up in after years, and reach persons for whom it was never intended, and so do incalculable mischief. Whereas, a slander only reaches the immediate bystanders, who can observe the manner and note the tone of the speaker, who have heard the antecedent conversation, which may greatly qualify the assertion, who-probably are acquainted with the speaker, and know what value is to be attached to any charge made by him; the mischief is thus much less in extent, and the publicity less durable. A slander may be uttered in the heat of a moment, and under a sudden provocation; the reduction into writing and the publication of a libel show greater deliberation and malice.” A definition of libel, as quoted by Judge Napton, in Nelson v. Musgrave (10 Mo. 648), is: “ A malicious pub — 231 — lication expressed, either in printing or writing, or by signs or pictures, tending to either blacken the memory of the dead, or the reputation of one who is alive, and expose him to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule.” This definition has been cited with approval in Price v. Whiteley (50 Mo. 439), and Legg v. Dunleavy (80 Mo. 563). Judge Napton also defined it to be any malicious printed slander, which tends to expose a man to ridicule, contempt, hatred, or degradation, is libel. “A libel is a censorious, or ridiculous writing, picture, or sign, made with a mischievous and malicious intent toward government, magistrate or individual.” Price v. Whiteley, supra, quoting from Alexander Hamilton. Judge Hyland, in Keemle et al. v. Sass, quotes with approval: “ Any printed publication that tends to bring a man into disrepute, ridicule, or contempt, is a libel in a legal sense.” There are many other definitions equally as well put, but amounting substantially to the same. I tbiuk the words charged here come within these definitions. The words charged are,.: “Joseph Hermann, brick-maker, is in the hands of the sheriff.” These words imply, without more, that plaintiff was engaged in the trade or business of brick-making. Townshend on Slander and Libel, ch. 315. Words written or spoken of one’s trade are actionable, when they might not be so, if spoken of the individual simply. Ib. secs. 132, 179. “The law has always been very tender of the reputation of tradesmen, and, therefore, words spoken of them in the way of their trade will bear an action that would not be actionable in the case of another person ; and if bare words are so, it will be stronger in the case of a public newspaper, which is so diffusive.” Harman v. Delany, 2 Str. 898. I think, therefore, there was no error in the court overruling defendant’s first and second objections. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth objections relate to the allowance of proof of special damages under the petition. Plaintiff was permitted to show that, in consequence of the publication, he had trouble with his partner. That he lost the sale of three or four — 232 — hundred thousand brick “to a man in Leavenworth,” and concerning the loss of one sale in Iowa. As the petition alleges no special damage, this was error. Defendant’s objections should have been sustained. Where the words are actionable per se, the damages flowing therefrom are general damages, being such as the law will presume to be the natural or probable consequence of the publication of the words. They need not be directly proved, being an inference of the law. Even though no evidence be offered, further than proof of the libel, it by no means follows that the jury would be restricted to nominal damages. It does not follow, however, that a plaintiff may not give evidence of general damage under a petition charging words actionable per se. A general loss of business by a trader, in consequence of defamation, is general damage. So Erskine, J., in Ingram v. Lawson (6 Bingham N. C. 212), says with respect to damages: “In order to enable the jury to form some judgment as to the effect the libel was calculated to produce, I think it was reasonable to let them know the nature of the plaintiff’s business, and the amount realized by him in his various voyages.” And Maulé, J., in same case, in reference to same subject, says: “But that evidence (profits of plaintiff’s voyages), was admitted only that the jury might know what sort of business the plaintiff carried on; for the same amount of damages ought not to be given in respect of a libel on a plaintiff in the way of his business and where his trade is small, as where his trade is large. In the latter case, the libel is likely to be injurious to a greater extent than in the former.” The general nature and the general extent of plaintiff’s business is proper proof to enable the jury the better to assess the general damages, “but no particular instance can be gone into, unless the customers’ names be given in the statement of the claim, or in the particulars, for this is special damage, and must, therefore, be laid specially.” Odgers on Libel and Slander, 293. And so the same author, at page 318, says: “Where the — 233 — special damage is not essential to the action (as in the case at bar), it may still, of course, be proved at the trial, to aggravate the damages. But to entitle such evidence to be given, the special damage relied on must be stated on the record with the same particularity as is required where the words are actionable only by reason of such special damage. The defendant is entitled to know beforehand what case he has to meet. Thus, in an action by a trader for words spoken of him in the way of his trade, evidence of a general loss of business is always admissible, for this is not special damage. But the plaintiff cannot be asked whether particular persons have not ceased to deal with him, unless tha loss of their special custom is set out in the pleadings as special damages.” “Loss of customers is so manifestly. special damage that it is unnecessary to state the cases in detail. In such actions, where loss Of trade or customers is relied upon as special damage, if the plaintiff intends to show particular instances, he must allege them.” 3 Sutherland on Damages, 666, 667. There was evidence in the cause tending to show that the correction pleaded by defendant was not made as soon as it should have been — evidence from which the jury were at liberty to infer, at least, wilful negligence and careless indifference as to the wrong it had perpetrated. The correction should have closely followed the discovery of the falsity of the charge. An offer to make the correction was compiled with conditions with which plaintiff was under no obligation to comply. Under such circumstances, instructions authorizing exemplary damages were proper. Defendant is sued as a corporation, but the answer in the -case stated that the Bradstreet company was not a corporation, but a partnership composed of several individuals. For this reason we are asked by plaintiff to disregard the bill of exceptions. The answer, however, proceeded to set up a defence to the cause, and the record treats it as the answer of the “ defendant.” The trial was had regularly, without objection from plaintiff, — 234 — as to this statement in the answer, and the judgment is finally rendered against the defendant. The record shows the bill of exceptions to have been filed by “the defendant,” and treats the defence throughout as by the defendant. Under such circumstances, we see no reason justifying us in disregarding the bill of exceptions. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded. All concur.