Hartkorn v. Paterson & Passaic Gas & Electric Co.
Hartkorn v. Paterson & Passaic Gas & Electric Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The ground of demurrer is that the declaration does not contain a statement of the particular words complained of, but sets forth in their stead the substance only of the supposed libel. This criticism is well founded as to the clause “setting forth the plaintiff as a common thief /’ but as to the charge that the defendant caused to be published that the plaintiff had a wire unknown to the defendant, &c., the
Despite the disregard of grammar in the construction of this statement, it would, J think, be generally taken to be sufficiently derogatory to the reputation of the plaintiff to be actionable.
The demurrer is overruled.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.