Lawson v. Hensley
Lawson v. Hensley
Opinion
The single question to be resolved in this appeal is whether a civil action for damages lies against one who offered false testimony in other litigation. We agree with the trial court that such a claim does not state a cause of action and we affirm his order dismissing the complaint in this case.
*370 Appellants seek to recover damages for perjury from appellee, who testified as an expert in a land dispute to which appellants were parties. The trial judge dismissed appellants’ complaint on the basis that it failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
It is the general rule that a civil action for damages will not lie for perjury made during litigation either by a party or a witness. See 60 Am.Jur.2d, Perjury, § 75 (1972) at 1012. We believe the law in Kentucky is in accord with the general rule and find appellants reliance upon the case of Nix v. Caldwell, 81 Ky. 293, 5 Ky.Law Rept. 275 (1883), to be misplaced as that case deals with defamation.
The judgment of the Knox Circuit Court is entirely proper and is hereby affirmed.
All concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William Lowell LAWSON and His Wife, Ethel Lawson, Appellants, v. Toleman Ace HENSLEY, Appellee
- Cited By
- 10 cases
- Status
- Published