Opinion ID: 2396533
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The facts are uncontroverted:

Text: On January 11, 1963, Eugene Knoblauch, a reporter for the defendant, The News-Journal Company, made a routine check of the Wilmington office of the District Director of Internal Revenue Service (hereinafter Director). Knoblauch asked the Director whether he had any news for press release. In the Director's presence and with his consent, the Chief of the Delinquent Accounts and Returns Branch of the office related to Knoblauch the details of a seizure for taxes, just made, of the property of a man whose name he gave as C. Stanley Short, Jr. On the basis of Knoblauch's report, the defendant published a news story in the Wilmington Morning News of January 12, 1963 which was a correct summary of the information furnished to Knoblauch; and an abbreviated version of the same story appeared in the Evening Journal of the same date. Both news stories contained the erroneous information, as furnished to Knoblauch, that the name of the person whose property was seized was C. Stanley Short, Jr. In fact the name of the taxable involved was C. Stanley Short, Sr.; otherwise the news stories were accurate. The defendant published retractions immediately upon learning of the mistake. C. Stanley Short, Jr. brought this libel action against the defendant newspaper publishing company only. Plaintiff contends that the issuance of the news release was not within the scope of the duties of the Director; that, therefore, the release was not privileged; and, under the common law maxim that tale bearers are as bad as tale makers, that the defendant stands liable to the plaintiff for publication of the false and defamatory statement. The defendant raised the defense of privilege. The plaintiff conceded the absence of malice and of abuse of privilege. The Superior Court held that the publication was privileged [205 A.2d 6] and granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant. This appeal followed.