Williams v. Hicks Printing Co.
Wisconsin Supreme Court
Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Winnebago county: Geo. W. BuRítell, Circuit Judge. Action to recover damages for a libelous publication in a newspaper printed and circulated in the city of Oshtosh, Wisconsin. Defendant corporation was the owner of the newspaper. Defendant Hieles was the principal stockholder and practically controlled the corporation. Both were participants in the alleged wrong.
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Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Winnebago county: Geo. W. BuRítell, Circuit Judge. Action to recover damages for a libelous publication in a newspaper printed and circulated in the city of Oshtosh, Wisconsin. Defendant corporation was the owner of the newspaper. Defendant Hieles was the principal stockholder and practically controlled the corporation. Both were participants in the alleged wrong. Plaintiff was a lawyer in good standing and it was claimed that the article in question was wilfully and maliciously composed and published .with intent to injure him in his good name…
1Opinion of the CourtMaRshall, J.
The essentials of a libelous publication are too well established in the law to require discussion or even citation of authority. There is no difference of opinion, as we understand it, between counsel, or counsel and the court, in respect to the matter. Differences, commonly, in such field spring, not from what is libelous in the abstract, but whether the particular article would ordinarily be understood so as to have a libelous effect. That, generally, is a question of law, but sometimes the characterizing circumstances are such that it is a question of fact, or of mixed law and fact.
The…
2Cases cited6 opinions
- Bradley v. CramerWisconsin Supreme Court · 1884
- Arnold v. IngramWisconsin Supreme Court · 1913
- Candrian v. MillerWisconsin Supreme Court · 1898
- Joseph v. BaarsWisconsin Supreme Court · 1910
- Pandow v. EichstedWisconsin Supreme Court · 1895
1 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by25 opinions
- Scott v. Times-Mirror Co.California Supreme Court · 1919
- Madison v. BoltonSupreme Court of Louisiana · 1958
- Denny v. MertzWisconsin Supreme Court · 1982
- Dalton v. MeisterWisconsin Supreme Court · 1971
- Leuch v. BergerWisconsin Supreme Court · 1915
20 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.