Case ID: nc_159/html/0056-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Allen, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

LILLIE A. HAMILTON v. ELI S. NANCE.
    (Filed 17 April, 1912.)
    1. Slander — Issues—Exact Words — Substance—Appeal and Error.
    In an action for_ slander, it is reversible error for tbe judge< to submit an issue under a charge that requires the jury to find that the defendant used the slanderous words exactly as set out in the complaint; for a recovery may be had if the defendant had used the words complained of in substance.'
    2. Slander — Utterances—Present Conditions — Actionable per se.
    The utterance of defendant, that the plaintiff had (at the time of the utterance) a certain loathsome venereal disease, is actionable slander. As to whether at the time of the utterance it would have been actionable if it referred to the past, Qucere.
    
    .3. Slander — Utterances—Malice Presumed — “Reports”—“News.”
    The law wall presume malice, in an action for slander, from the statement of the defendant that the plaintiff has a certain loathsome venereal. disease (referring to the time of the statement), whether it was made in the form of a “report,” or “news,” or a direct charge.
    4. Slander — Measure of Damages — “News”—“Reports”—Evidence.
    When a plea of justification is not interposed in defense to an action for slander, the defendant may offer evidence in mitigation to the issue as to the damages tending to show that his slanderous utterances were in the form of a “report” or “news.”
    5. Slander — Issues—Justification—Verdict—Malice Presumed — Actual Malice — Measure of Damages — Punitive Damages.
    In an action for slander; where justification is not pleaded and privilege is not claimed, the jury, upon finding an affirmative answer to the first issue, implies, as a matter of law, that the charge complained of is false and malicious, and compensatory damages should be awarded; and additional punitive damages may also be given if the jury find actual malice. The proper issues and legal inferences in actions for slander where justification is and where it is not pleaded, set out and discussed by Me. Justice Allen.
    Appeal from Cooke, J., at October Term, 1911, of Union.
    Tliis is an action to recover damages for slander.
    The first issue submitted to the jury as to the utterance of the words alleged in the complaint was answered in favor of the defendant, and the plaintiff excepted and appealed.
    The facts are sufficiently stated in the opinion of the Court by Mr. Justice Allen.
    
    
      Adams, Armfield & Adams and Stack & Parker for plaintiff.
    
    
      Bedwine & Sikes, McNeeley & Brooks, and Bobinson & Caudle for defendant.
    
   Allen, J.

The complaint alleges that the defendant charged that the “news” was that the husband of the plaintiff “had” a venereal disease, naming it, and “has given it to his wife.” The answer admits that he said the “report” was that the husband of the plaintiff “has had” the disease named in the complaint, and “has given it to his wife.”

The plaintiff tendered the following issue, which the court refused to submit, and the plaintiff excepted: “1. Did the defendant wrongfully and falsely speak of and concerning the plaintiff language imputing that the plaintiff was afflicted with a venereal disease, as alleged in the complaint?”

His Honor submitted the issue, “Did the defendant wrongfully and falsely speak of and concerning the plaintiff” (and then follows the words set out in the complaint), and charged the jury that if the plaintiff had not satisfied them by the greater weight of the evidence that the defendant spoke those words, to answer the first issue “No,” and the plaintiff excepted,

In our opinion, the ruling was erroneous and entitles the plaintiff to a new trial.

In an action to recover damages for slander the plaintiff is not required to prove the utterance of the exact words set out in the complaint, but must prove the words in substance, and his Honor should have so instructed the jury. The issue submitted could not have been answered in favor of tbe plaintiff under tbe instructions of tbe court if tbe jury found that tbe defendant used all tbe language set out in tbe complaint, except that be used tbe word “report” instead of tbe word “news,” which would be contrary to tbe practice under our system of pleading. Revisal, 515 and 516.

Issues are approved in McCurry v. McCurry, 82 N. C., 296; Wozelka v. Hettrick, 93 N. C., 10, and in Rice v. McAdams, 149 N. C., 29, submitting tbe inquiry to tbe jury as to whether tbe defendant spoke tbe words set out in tbe. complaint “or words of tbe same substance,” and it is generally held that proof of tbe words in substance is sufficient. 18 A. and E. Enc. L., 1078; 13 Ency. Pl. and Pr., 63; 25 Cyc., 484; Pegram v. Stoltz, 67 N. C., 148.

Tbe authorities seem to agree that charging that another has a loathsome disease such as that described in tbe complaint is actionable (Koucher v. Blinn, 23 Am. Rep., 729; Joannes v. Burt, 83 Am. Dec., 626; Watson v. McCarthy, 46 Am. Dec., 380; Williams v. Holdridge, 22 Barb., 398; McDonald v. Nugent, 122 Iowa, 652; Bloodworth v. Gray, 49 E. C. L., 334; Irons V. Field, 9 R. I., 217; Nichols v. Guy, 2 Ind., 82), but that no action can be maintained if tbe charge is that be had tbe disease in time past (Cooley Torts, p. 387; Hale Torts, p. 301; Jaggard Torts, p. 509; Newell S. and L., p. 198; Odgers S. and L., 62; Pike v. Van Worman, 5 How. Pr. R., 176; Carlslake v. Mapleborum, Durf. and East R., 474; Golderman v. Sterne, 73 Mass., 182; Bruce v. Soule, 69 Me. 566; Williams v. Holdridge, 22 Barb., 398; Irons v. Field, 9 R. I., 217; Nichols v. Guy, 2 Ind., 82), to which last proposition we do not commit ourselves without qualification, but if tbe first is true, it would seem that tbe answer substantially admits tbe allegations of tbe complaint, as tbe defendant therein says tbe husband bad the disease and “has given it to bis wife,” which at least admits of tbe construction that it referred, at tbe time of tbe utterance, to tbe present.

If tbe defendant made tbe charge that tbe plaintiff bad tbe disease at tbe time be was speaking, tbe law would presume malice, and the burden would be on the defendant to prove the truth of the charge under the plea of justification (Ramsey v. Cheek, 109 N. C., 273), and as no such plea is relied on, the only issue in that event remaining for the jury to consider would be the one as to damages, and under this issue the defendant could offer evidence in mitigation. The fact that the charge is made in the form of a “report” or “news,” instead of a direct charge, does not relieve the defendant. Hampton v. Wilson, 15 N. C., 468; Johnson v. Lance, 29 N. C., 457.

The correct issues in actions to recover damages for slander where the words alleged áre actionable per sc and in which justification is not pleaded and privilege is not claimed, are:

(1) Did the defendant speak of and concerning'the plaintiff the words in substance alleged in the complaint ?

(2) If so, what damage is the plaintiff entitled to recover?

If the first issue is answered “No,” the case is at an end. If answered “Yes,” the law, in the absence of justification, says that the charge is false and malicious, and it is then the duty of the jury to award compensatory damages, and they may, in addition, award punitive damages if there is actual malice, which may be inferred by the jury in some cases from the circumstances. Stanford v. Grocery Co., 43 N. C., 419.

If justification is pleaded the issues are:

(1) Did the defendant speak of and concerning the plaintiff the words in substance as alleged in the complaint?

(2) If so, were they true?

(3) What damages, if any, is plaintiff entitled to recover?

If the first issue is answered “No” or the second “Yes,” there can be no recovery; and if cthe first is answered “Yes”.and the second “No,” the jury may award damages. This is true because the utterance of words actionable per se implies malice, and in the absence of a plea of justification, or when the plea is entered and the issue is answered against the defendant, the law says the words are false.

There are many exceptions to evidence, which it might be well to consider, hut we cannot do so without referring to the evidence, and it is so revolting that it ought not to he in our reports except from absolute necessity. A new trial is ordered.

New trial.