Case Name: Frank A. Lynch vs. John C. Febiger, Jr.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1887-03
Citations: 39 La. Ann. 336
Docket Number: No. 9774
Parties: Frank A. Lynch vs. John C. Febiger, Jr.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 39
Pages: 336–339

Head Matter:
No. 9774.
Frank A. Lynch vs. John C. Febiger, Jr.
A dealer in paints of a particular qqality who soils the same with the formal condition that they shall be used as they come from the manufacturers' and be properly put on, and who subsequently discovers that one to whom bebas sold such paints has put in the same foreign ingredients — oil and turpentine — is not, as a rule, liable in damages for refusing to sell farther to snub purchaser ard for stating that bo bad not kept bis agreement.
Particularly is such tbe law, when the statements are made without malipe, under the firm belief that they are true and for self-protection, to tbe party himself; ór to parties inter tinted entitled to an information-
APPEAL from the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Bightor, J.
Henry Dufilho for Plaintiff and Appellee:
Every publication of language concerning a man or bis affairs, which, as a necessary of natural and proximate consequence occasions pecuniary loss to him, is prima facia a slander. Townshend on Slander and Libel, § 70, p. 115.
Slander is defaming a man in his reputation by speaking words which affect his life, office or trade. Ibid, p. 59. foot note 3.
"Words uttered must be construed in the sense which hearers of common and reasonable understanding would ascribe to them, even though particular individuals better informed in the matter alluded to, might form a different judgment on the subject. Moak’s Underhill on Torts, pp. 122,123.
Language is not to be construed in a milder sense (witioH aensu), because it is capable of a forced construction by being interpreted in an innocent sense. Bigelow on Torts, (Student's Edition), p. 39; see also 2 L. 577 ¡ 2 N. S. 257, and other authorities quoted in brief.
"When language is slanderous per ae, damages maybe recovered without special injury or damage being proved. Townshend on Slander and Libel, p. 542; 38 Ann. (vol. 38)/No. • 2, p. 161, aud the authorities in that decision quoted.
Injury to one's feelings is a legitimate ground of action for reasonable indemnity. 38 Ann. (vol. 38) No. 2, p. 161,
Communications made by one person to another, having for object the protection of the private interest of either or both of tlio parties, must, in order to be privileged, have been made with a firm belief in their truth; otherwise malice is tobe presumed. To determine whether such communications were made under a firm belief in their truth, it is necessary to consider the circumstances attending the publication, and the means of information possessed by the publisher for knowing whether or not the communication or publication was true. That mischief which a man does he is supposed to mean, and he is not permitted to put in issue a meaning abstracted from the fact. Townshend on Slander aud Libel, pp. 135, 600; Moak's Underhill on Torts, p. 129; Eolkard’s Starkie on Slander and Libel, p.343.
The answer of defendant equivocates. It includes every possible defense, except apology to : the party aggrieved. It cannot avail him, 38 Ann. (vol. 38), No. 2. p. 161.
There is no such thing in law as a half-way justification. Townshend ou Slander aud Libel, § 212 and note, 2d ed. • •
Joseph P. Uornor and Francis B. Lee for Defendant and Appellant:
1. The truth of the words uttered, or publication made, is an absolute defense to a civil action of. libel or-slander. Const. 1879. Art. 168; Perret vg. Times, 25 Ann. 176 ; 14 Ann. 406; 15 Ann. 592; Hawkins vs. Picayune, 29 Ann. 137; Staub vs. Van Benthuysen, 36 Ann. 469.
2. Statements made by one person about another to a,third, though untrue, are privileged when they aie made witnout malice, under a firm belief iu their truth, and for the purpose of protecting his own pecuniary interests or those of persons equally interested in the subject matter of the communications, or in reply to questions upon, the said subject matter put to him by persons interested in it and entitled to an answer. Townshend on Libel and Slander, secs. 209, 240, 241 ; Odgers on label and Slander, pp. 203. 209, 234; Hauey vs, Trost,'34 Ann. 1147.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Bekmümoz, C. J.
This is an action in damages for slander, fixed at. $25,000.
In two petitions, an original and a supplementary, elaborately prepared, the plaintiff complains that the defendant has slandered him in his business, as a house painter, misrepresenting him as having adulterated paints purchased from defendant.
Elaborate exceptions and an amplified answer were filed, in which the defendant avers that he, as agent, had sold paints know)) as " Masury's liquid colors," under the express condition, previously entered into, that he would use these just as they come from the manufacturers whom he represented, and would put them on properly; that he subsequently discovered that plaintiff had violated the agreement by allowing something to be put into the. colors, and thathe would not sell plaintiff any more of said paints.
The case was submitted to a jury, who returned a-verdict of $500, on which was rendered the judgment appealed from, and of which no amendment is asked.
Twenty-two witnesses have testified.
The contract or understanding was proved, and it, was expressly admitted that the plaintiff had put oil aud turpentine in Masury's liquid colors.
The proof is also that the defendant made the statements to the plaintiff himself, as well as to parties interested, who had a right to be informed, and whom defendant had a right to approach.
Conceding arguendo, however, that the defendant has not proved the contract and its violation, a question rising superior to those raised in this suit would be: Could not the defendant, without giving any reasons or tendering any excuse, have refused, with impunity, selling paints any further to plaintiff?
It occurs to us that defendant cannot be assimilated to public servants, common carriers, aud to others in similar positions, who are bound to do certain things, aud who may make themselves liable in cases of dereliction of duty and injury to others.
Considering further that it is established that the defendant used the word adulterated when he accused plaintiff with putting in the paint other ingredients, we do not think that it is shown thathe did so with a full knowledge of the whole purpose of the word, which sometimes means to corrupt by some foreign mixture. We prefer, under-the cir eumstances, in the absence of any malice shown, to consider that he used the word in the other sense which it has, to alter by intermixing what was Iqgs valuable, such as oil and turpentine.
Even were it otherwise, under the evidence, we are not prepared to say that the addition of those two ingredients did not really constitute an adulteration, which actually corrupted or vitiated the liquid colors, so as to deprive them, when properly used, as received from the manufacturers, of their usual brilliancy and durability.
The testimony, pro and eon, establishes satisfactorily the defeuse.
In refusing the motion for a new trial, the District Judge said that lie eonsiclered the verdict erroneous, and gave reasons in support, as follows:
1st. There was no pioof of any defamatory utterances by defendant other than the statements as admitted in the answer.
2d. It is more than doubtful whether those statements taken in the light of the entire admissions are at all defamatory.
3d. 'I'lie truth of those statements were not only proved beyond a-doubt, but it was admitted in argument that tlie turpentine had been put into tlie paints by plaintiff's orders.
4th. The existence, prior to the date of tlie alleged slanders, of the contract sot up by the defendant was established.
5th. The. further defense of the qualified privilege set up in the answer was established in each particular ease in which it '.ya;s pleaded, and it was so pleaded as to each of the statements admitted and proved to have been made.
6th. There was no proof of injury to plaintiff's reputation.
7th. There was no malice by the defendant. His acts and statements proceeded from the desire to protect Ms interests, not to wantonly injure or annoy plaintiff.
While we consider that the district judge ought to have granted a. new trial, still as the defendant does not complain, we feel justified in passing upon the merits.
With the district judge we think the verdict is erroneous and that, the case is with the defendant.
It is therefore ordered that the verdict of the jury be set aside and that tlie judgment appealed from be reversed, and it is now decreed that there be judgment in favor of the defendant, with costs in both courts.