New York Court of Common Pleas, 1895

Hawk v. American News Co.

New York Court of Common Pleas · Decided February 11, 1895 · Bischoff

33 N.Y.S. 848; 24 N.Y. Civ. Proc. R. 255; 67 N.Y. St. Rep. 501 (New York Supplement)

Counsel

E. W. Brenen, for plaintiff., E. A. Carley, for defendant.

Opinion of the Court

BISCHOFF, J.

The partial defense to wMch the demurrer is interposed is properly pleaded as such (Code Civ. Proc. § 508), being a statement of matter in mitigation of damages (Id. §§ 535, 536, 3343, subd. 9), since, in an action for libel, facts tending to disprove actual malice, such as do those here pleaded, may be proven in mitigation, inasmuch as a recovery of exemplary damages may be thereby resisted. Bisbey v. Shaw, 12 N. Y. 67, 74; Bush v. Prosser, 11 N. Y. 347; Samuels v. Association, 52 N. Y. 625; Daly v. Byrne, 1 Abb. N. C. 152, note. Demurrer overruled, with costs.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.