Brown v. Briggs

BILLINGS, Chief Judge.

This is an appeal from a jury verdict in favor of Lloyd Briggs on his counterclaim for libel. The jury awarded him $5,000 actual damages, no punitive damages. The trial court entered judgment in accordance with the verdict, denying the Browns’ motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We reverse and remand with directions. The controversy arose after the Browns brought suit on a note executed by Mr. and Mrs. Briggs in connection with the sale of the Browns’ Sikeston, Missouri, restaurant to them. After several delays in the trial proceedings, the case was set for…