Case Name: J. Fulda v. L. A. Caldwell and S. Gouley, her Husband
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1854-06
Citations: 9 La. Ann. 358
Docket Number: 
Parties: J. Fulda v. L. A. Caldwell and S. Gouley, her Husband.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 9
Pages: 358–359

Head Matter:
J. Fulda v. L. A. Caldwell and S. Gouley, her Husband.
The interchange of opprobrious epithets, and mutual vituperation and abuse, will justify a Judge in approving a verdict for the defendant, although the slanderous words were proved ; and a verdict rendered in such a case will not be disturbed by the Supreme Court.
APPEAL from the Fifth District Court of New Orleans, Buchanan, J.
L. Lugenbuhl, for plaintiff and appellant. W. 3. Sunt, for defendants.

Opinion:
Campbell, J.
This is an action of slander. The defence is the general denial. The slanderous words were proved as charged; yet the jury who tried the case, rendered a verdict in favor of the defendants, which verdict was approved by the District Judge.
The parties to this suit, are evidently persons, coarse and indecorous in their behavior; and the jury no doubt regarded the opprobrious epithets so lavishly bestowed by both of them on each other, as mere mutual vituperation and abuse. Under these circumstances, we will not disturb their verdict.
It is not fit that such cases as this record presents, should be brought before the courts. Better far would it have been for the credit of the parties and the cause of justice, if the matters disclosed had been permitted to remain only in the knowledge of the bye-standers, than .to have blazoned them on the records of the tribunals.
Judgment affirmed.