Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/360/593/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 20:42:03+00:00

Document:
While petitioner was a Captain in the Navy and Commander of the Boston Naval Shipyard, he withdrew recognition of the Federal Employees Veterans Association, of which respondents were officers, and sent an official report of his action, reciting his dissatisfaction with the activities of the Association, to the Chief of the Bureau of Ships and the Chief of Industrial Relations of the Department of the Navy. In accordance with the policy and usual practice of the Navy, he also sent copies of the report to the members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation. Respondents sued him in a Federal District Court for libel, alleging malice. In defense, he pleaded absolute privilege.
1. The validity of petitioner's claim of absolute privilege in the performance of his duties as an officer of the Federal Government must be judged by federal standards, to be formulated by the courts in the absence of legislative action by Congress. P. 360 U. S. 567.
2. On the record in this case, it appears that the sending of copies of the report to the Massachusetts congressional delegation, the only publication before this Court, was in the discharge of petitioner's official duties and in relation to matters committed to him for determination. Therefore, his plea of absolute privilege must be sustained. Barr v. Matteo, ante, p. 360 U. S. 564. Pp. 360 U. S. 597-598.
This is a companion case to Barr v. Matteo, ante, p. 360 U. S. 564 decided today. Petitioner Howard, in 1955, was a Captain in the United States Navy and Commander of the Boston Naval Shipyard. Respondent Lyons was National Commander of the Federal Employees Veterans Association, Inc., and respondent McAteer a local officer of that Association. Both respondents were at all material times civilian employees at the Boston Naval Shipyard, and, for several years before September 8, 1955, the Association was recognized by the shipyard as an employees' representative group. On that date, petitioner withdrew official recognition of the Association -- an action which is not here challenged.
Respondents brought suit in the Massachusetts District Court, invoking diversity jurisdiction and making the following allegations: that, on September 8, 1955, petitioner circulated a statement defaming them; that the statement purported to be an official memorandum to the Chief of the Bureau of Ships and the Chief of Navy Industrial Relations, but was released by petitioner "outside of his official duties" to various newspapers and wire services and to the members of the Massachusetts delegation in the Congress of the United States; that, in circulating the statement, petitioner acted "maliciously, wilfully, wickedly, recklessly and falsely and with malice aforesight [sic]"; and that the statement was intended to and did injure the reputation of respondents.
reports to the Massachusetts congressional delegation; and that the dissemination of the report of September 8, 1955, to the newspapers had been made through official channels and approved by the acting Commandant of the First Naval District.
"it is true that these members of Congress did have an official interest in being kept advised of important developments in labor relations at the Boston Naval Shipyard,"
"the Commander of the Boston Naval Shipyard might have conceived it to be a proper exercise of his official functions to see to it that the members of Congress should receive copies of such official report. . . ."
Accordingly, it reversed the judgment of the District Court and remanded the case for trial. 250 F.2d 912, 915.
We granted certiorari to consider petitioner's contention that the Court of Appeals had erred in failing to recognize his plea of absolute privilege in respect of the publication to members of Congress. 357 U.S. 903. Respondents did not cross-petition for certiorari.
At the outset, we take note of a question which the Court of Appeals, on its view of the case, did not find it necessary to resolve -- whether the extent of the privilege in respect of civil liability for statements allegedly defamatory under state law which may be claimed by officers of the Federal Government, acting in the course of their duties, is a question as to which the federal courts are bound to follow state law. We think that the very statement of the question dictates a negative answer. The authority of a federal officer to act derives from federal sources, and the rule which recognizes a privilege under appropriate circumstances as to statements made in the course of duty is one designed to promote the effective functioning of the Federal Government. No subject could be one of more peculiarly federal concern, and it would deny the very considerations which give the rule of privilege its being to leave determination of its extent to the vagaries of the laws of the several States. Cf. Clearfield Trust Co. v. United States, 318 U. S. 363. We hold that the validity of petitioner's claim of absolute privilege must be judged by federal standards, to be formulated by the courts in the absence of legislative action by Congress.
plainly show that the District Court was correct in finding that the circulation of the report to the Massachusetts congressional delegation was "in the discharge of [petitioner's] . . . official duties and in relation to matters committed to him for determination."
MR. JUSTICE BLACK concurs for the reasons stated in his concurring opinion in Barr v. Matteo, ante, p. 360 U. S. 564.
"This letter alleged that plaintiff Lyons, by name, and the other plaintiff, by description, 'exercise a predominant influence' in the organizational activities; that the organization has been giving wide distribution to a newsletter or bulletin; that this bulletin has become more and more unfairly critical of the shipyard administration for the purpose of not only thwarting the aims of the shipyard administration in the accomplishment of its mission, but also to further personal aims and self-interests of the individuals in control of the labor organization; that these 'editorial expletives' have adversely affected the general morale of employees of the shipyard, who are entitled to be protected against such 'overt subversion' by any labor group 'whose methods and whose motives are unethical, uninhibited, and lack the integrity of purpose that could reasonably be expected.'"
"Congressional Notification of Actions of Interest. Members of Congress are very anxious to keep in touch with what is going on in their respective states and districts. Navy agencies shall keep them advised, if possible, in advance, of any new actions or curtailment of actions which may affect them."
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE WARREN with whom MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS joins, dissenting.
I cannot agree that Captain Howard's action in sending a copy of his report to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation was absolutely privileged. [Footnote 2/1] In its argument in this case, the Government consistently distinguished this case from Barr v. Matteo, ante, p. 360 U. S. 564, by characterizing Captain Howard as a man who was acting under strict orders and who had no discretion.
other authority was offered. It is significant that, in the same affidavit, when Captain Howard was explaining why he had transmitted copies of the report to a superior, he was able to cite chapter and verse of the U.S. Navy Public Information Manual as authority for that action.
For the first time on reargument in this Court, the Government produced the letter from the Secretary of the Navy referred to in the Court's opinion. The paragraph relied on is nothing more than a general policy statement applicable only to "Navy agencies." [Footnote 2/2] The letter was in no way directed toward labor problems -- and the quoted portion is but a few lines in a five-page letter sent to a general distribution list and apparently never inserted in the Federal Register or any Navy Manual. Obviously, this letter was not cited by Captain Howard, because he was unaware of its existence -- or its applicability.
The short explanation is that the Captain thought that, since the plaintiffs had attacked the administration of the shipyard by sending copies of their newsletters and charges to Congress, he should send Congress his side of the story. This he had a right to do, but, in doing so, he should have no greater privilege than his critic. The plaintiffs in this case, at most, received qualified privilege for their complaints to Congress, [Footnote 2/3] yet the Captain's answer is given absolute privilege.
I agree with the Court in its determination that federal law controls this matter.
"This term includes the Civilian Executive Assistants to the Secretary, the Naval Professional Assistants to the Secretary and the Heads of Offices and Boards of the Navy Department."
Surely it was never intended that every naval officer who thought that he knew something in which Congress might be interested was required to contact Congress directly.
See, e.g., Sweeney v. Higgins, 117 Me. 415, 104 A. 791; Tyree v. Harrison, 100 Va. 540, 42 S.E. 295; Hancock v. Mitchell, 83 W.Va. 156, 98 S.E. 65.
On this record, I cannot believe that Captain Howard would have been derelict in his duty if he had not sent the report to Congress -- and it has never been suggested that such action would have warranted disciplinary measures.

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