Court Opinion

ID: 5467905
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-09 20:06:50.30681+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:11.295023
License: Public Domain

Harris, Justice.
In Graham vs Stone (6 Howard, 15), Mr. Justice Johnson, in an exceedingly well considered opinion, has stated the true rule applicable to the pleading of matter in mitigation of damages in an action for libel or slander. The general rule is now as it was before the adoption of the Code, that matter alleged in an answer must be such as constitutes a complete defence to so much of the complaint as it professes to answer. To this rule the 165th section of the Code has made one exception. Where the defendant insists, in an action for libel or slander, that what he is alleged to have written or spoken, or some part thereof is true, he may, in connexion therewith, and not otherwise, allege mitigating circumstances, so that in case, upon the trial, he should fail in proving his justification, he may not be prevented as he would have been under the former practice, from giving evidence to reduce the damages. When there is no justification, the Code has made no change in the rules applicable to the pleading or proving of mitigating circumstances.
In this case, the defendant has alleged matter which he claims to be a justification of the charge in the first cause of action stated by the plaintiff. Whether or not it amounts to a justification, is not for me to decide upon this motion. If the plaintiff thinks *378the matter so alleged does not constitute a justification he may demur and thus have its suEciency determined. Upon the principles to which I have referred, the matter in mitigation would abide the fate of the justification, upon demurrer; for, as we have seen, it can only stand, as a pleading, when connected with matter of justification.
Assuming, then, for the purpose of this motion, that the defendant has alleged matter which justifies the charge stated in the first cause of action, it follows that so far as he has alleged, in mitigation of damages, facts which it would, under the rules applicable to that subject, be competent to prove, for that purpose, upon the trial, the answer is authorized by the present rules of pleading. If the answer contains any thing more, it ought not to be there, and should be stricken out.
The cause of action to which this part of the answer is intended to be applied, consists in a general charge of his dishonesty, in connexion with particulars, which may or may not be construed to impute to the plaintiff a criminal offence. The charge of dishonesty, being made against the plaintiff in his capacity of a merchant’s clerk, is itself actionable. In respect to this charge alone, therefore, it is competent, by way of mitigation, if not justification, to show any facts which tend to furnish a ground for making the charge. For this purpose, I think the defendant might properly allege, and, if he can, prove the various dishonest facts set forth in his answer; such as the sale of two barrels of oil without accounting for the proceeds—the taking of five gallons of gin for his own use, without making any entry thereof, or accounting for it; and the attempt to impose upon the purchasers of his employers’ stock of goods his own unsaleable property, as constituting a part of the stock.
But there are other allegations in the answer which the defendant would not be allowed to prove, even in mitigation of damages. They may show, and if true, they do show that the plaintiff had been guilty of improprieties and was unworthy of his situation, but they have no proper connexion with the charges which are the subject of this action. Of this description are the allegations that the inventory taken by the plaintiff fell short in weight and value; that the plaintiff improperly withheld the *379recipes belonging to the store; that he adulterated medicines and attempted to divert customers from the store in which he was employed to other rival establishments. These are facts which the defendant would not be allowed to prove, and, of course, they ought not to be alleged in the answer. That part of the answer, therefore, which embraces these allegations, beginning with the words “ said Cook abandoned,” in the 7th folio, must be struck out. As to the residue of the matter included in the motion, it must be denied. Neither party having succeeded wholly, neither party is entitled to costs.