Court Opinion

ID: 9449062
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 23:54:27.289443+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:31:40.367331
License: Public Domain

HAYS, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
Since I believe that the evidence in this case was insufficient to go to the jury on the issue of abuse of privilege, I would reverse the judgment below and remand for dismissal of the complaint.
Once the court had determined that the libelous article was published by the defendant on an occasion of privilege, the burden of proving that the privilege had been abused was on the plaintiff. Ely v. Mason, 97 Conn. 38, 115 A. 479 (1921). Under Connecticut law, this burden is a heavy one. The standard governing sufficiency of the evidence to go to the jury on this issue was set forth in Somerville v. Hawkins, 10 C.B. 583, 138 Eng.Rep. 231 (1851), and approved by the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors in Ely v. Mason, 97 Conn. 38, 43, 115 A. 479, 481 (1921):
“It is true that the facts proved are consistent with the presence of malice, as well as with its absence. But this is not sufficient to entitle the plaintiff to have the question of malice left to the jury; for, the existence of malice is consistent with the evidence in all cases except those in which something inconsistent with malice is shewn in evidence: so that, to say, that, in all cases where the evidence was consistent with malice, it ought to be left to the jury, would be in effect to say that the jury might find malice in any case in which it was not disproved —which would be inconsistent with the admitted rule, that, in cases of privileged communication, malice must be proved, and therefore its absence must be presumed until such proof is given. * * * [I]t is necessary that the evidence should raise a probability of malice, and be more consistent with its existence than with its non-existence.” 138 Eng.Rep. at 234.
Plaintiff did not establish a “probability” that defendant acted in “reckless disregard” of the truth or falsity of the story. Under the Connecticut rule
“ ‘[i]t is not essential in order to invoke the protection of a privileged communication that the defendant should have had what might seem to the trier to be “good reasons” or “reasonable grounds” for believing that the statements made by him were true; it is enough if he honest*358ly believed them to be true and made them in good faith,’ on an occasion of privilege to discharge a duty or protect his interest.”
Ely v. Mason, 97 Conn. 38 at 44, 115 A. at 481 (1921). See Barry v. McCollom, 81 Conn. 293, 70 A. 1035 (1908).1 While Parke’s investigation may have been careless, there was no proof whatsoever that he did not believe his article to represent the truth.
In light of the rule set forth in the Barry and Ely cases, supra, I cannot agree that Charles Parker Co. v. Silver City Crystal Co., 142 Conn. 605, 116 A.2d 440 (1955) may properly be limited to situations involving defamatory statements by candidates for public office. That the Connecticut court did not view its holding so narrowly is demonstrated by its use of authority.2 And I am unable to understand why a newspaper should be held to a higher standard of honesty and care than is a candidate for public office.3
It is also contended that by holding appellees up to ridicule, the Times transcended the bounds of fair comment. But as the majority implicitly recognizes, the evidence must demonstrate that the Times’ sole purpose was to amuse its readers. Since the presence of a legitimate additional purpose (comment on police .methods) was at least equally consistent with the evidence, the case should have been dismissed. Somerville v. Hawkins, supra.
The majority further recognizes that a defendant “could ridicule the plaintiff in a libel action with impunity” if the published item were true. But this states the rule too narrowly. Fair comment, including ridicule, is privileged if the published item commented upon is true, or privileged. 3 Restatement, Torts § 606, comment b at 277; 1 Harper & James, Torts § 5.28 at 456 (1956). Once the statement commented upon is shown to be privileged, “mere exaggeration, slight irony, or wit, or all those delightful touches of style which go to make an article readable, do not push beyond the limitations of fair comment.” Briarcliff Lodge Hotel v. Citizen-Sentinel Publishers, 260 N.Y. 106, 118-119, 183 N.E. 193, 198 (1932). “The fact that the criticism is fantastic is immaterial, and the extravagant form of its expression is unimportant.” 3 Restatement, Torts § 606, comment c at 277 (1938). “Fair comment may be severe and may include ridicule, sarcasm, and invective.” Hartmann v. Boston Herald-Traveler Corp., 323 Mass. 56, 61, 80 N.E.2d 16,19 (1948). “Fitting strictures, sarcasm, or ridicule, even, may be used * * Cherry v. Des Moines Leader, 114 Iowa 298, 304, 86 N.W. 323, 325, 54 L.R.A. 855 (1901).
It seems to me to be important to maintain unimpaired the privilege of poking fun at public officials.
For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.

. While this may represent the minority viewpoint, see Prosser, Torts 628 (2d ed. 1955), we are, of eonrse, bound by the Connecticut rule. Erie R.R. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938).

. See 142 Conn. at 618, 116 A.2d at 446, where the court relied particularly on Ely v. Mason, supra, and Barry v. McCollom, supra, neither of which involved candidates for public office.
See also its use at 142 Conn. 617, 116 A.2d 445-446 of Coleman v. MacLennan, 78 Kan. 711, 98 P. 281, 20 L.R.A.,N.S., 361 (1908).

. Proto v. Bridgeport Herald Corp., 136 Conn. 557, 72 A.2d 820 (1950) is not to the contrary. There the libel consisted of a report that plaintiff had engaged in black market dealings and made “tie-in sales.” The opinion makes clear that the defendant newspaper had no information regarding this aspect of the article. 136 Conn. at 560-561, 72 A.2d at 823.