Ellis v. Northern Star Co.

388 S.E.2d 127 (1990)

326 N.C. 219

Earl ELLIS and Ellis Brokerage Company, Inc.

v.

NORTHERN STAR COMPANY and Thomas W. Kenney.

No. 192PA89.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

February 7, 1990.

Graham & James by Mark Anderson Finkelstein, Raleigh, for plaintiffs.

Morris, Bell & Morris by William C. Morris, Jr., Asheville, for defendants.

MITCHELL, Justice.

The questions presented on appeal include (1) whether a letter sent by the defendants to some of the plaintiffs' business contacts is libelous per se, and (2) whether libel per se of a plaintiff relating to the conduct of its business constitutes an…