Case Name: Alexander Klemin, Respondent, v. Dr. Walter D. Smith and Dudley H. Smith, Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1937-03-12
Citations: 250 A.D. 269
Docket Number: 
Parties: Alexander Klemin, Respondent, v. Dr. Walter D. Smith and Dudley H. Smith, Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 250
Pages: 269–270

Head Matter:
Alexander Klemin, Respondent, v. Dr. Walter D. Smith and Dudley H. Smith, Appellants.
First Department,
March 12, 1937.
Harold L. Winston [Harold L. Winston, attorney for Dudley H. Smith, Samuel Levinson, attorney for Dr. Walter D. Smith], for the appellants.
Martin A. Meyer, Jr., of counsel [Ralph G. Albrecht with him on the brief; Peaslee & Brigham, attorneys], for the respondent.
Modfg. and affg. 161 Misc. 189.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The " first," " third," " seventh " and " eighth " causes of action should be dismissed because the alleged defamatory matters set forth therein are not libelous per se.
As the language of the alleged libelous matter in each of the remaining causes of action is susceptible of an innocent as well as of a disgraceful meaning, the question becomes one of fact for a jury to decide. (Demos v. N. Y. E. J. Publishing Co., 210 N. Y. 13; Briarcliff L. Hotel v. C.-S. Publishers, 260 id. 106, 118; Zbyszko v. N. Y. American, Inc., 228 App. Div. 277, 279.)
The order should be modified by dismissing the " first," " third," " seventh " and " eighth " causes of action and as so modified, affirmed, without costs.
Martin, P. J., McAvoy, O'Malley and Cohn, JJ., concur; Dore, J., dissents in part.