Case ID: la-ann_16/html/0094-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Buchanan, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Luther Homes v. H. B. Carrier.
    The charge of adultery, preferred by the wife against the husband, to serve as a basis for a judgment of divorce, does not of itself amount to a defamation upon the failure of tho former to sustain the allegation by proof. If the accusation be not wanton, or malicious, although unfounded in point of fact, it cannot with propriety be said that there was a public defamation.
    Appeal from the Fourth District Court of New Orleans, Price, J.
    
      J. McConnell, for plaintiff and appellant. Mott c6 Fraser, for defendant.
   Buchanan, J.

Defendant sued plaintiff, her husband, for divorce, on the ground of adultery.

This suit, after lasting a considerable time, was dismissed, plaintiff in the action (defendant herein) failing to appear on trial to prosecute the same. Thereupon the present plaintiff brought this suit against his wife, for separation of bed and board, on the ground of public defamation ; the defamation alleged, consisting in the allegations of defendant’s petition in the first suit.

Defendant answers by reiterating her charges of adultery; although she does not now claim a judgment of divorce, but only that plaintiff’s action be dismissed.

The plaintiff has not made out a case of public defamation, as contemplated by article 139 of the Civil Code,

The charge of adultery, preferred by the wife against the husband, to serve as a basis for a judgment of divorce, does not, of itself, amount to a defamation, upon the failure of the former to sustain the allegation by proof. If the accusation be not wanton or malicious, although unfounded in point of fact, it cannot, with propriety, he said that there was a public defamation.

We add, that we agree with the Judge of the District Court, that defendant has failed to prove the charge of adultery against her husband.

, Judgment affirmed, with costs.

Land, J., absent.