Howland v. Maynard
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Tort, against a municipal corporation, for libel. At the trial in the Superior Court, before Braley, J., it op-. peared from the plaintiff’s evidence that the alleged libel was contained in the report of an investigating committee appointed by the defendant town, with which a firm of which the plaintiff was a member had a contract for the construction of a system of waterworks ; that, at a regularly called meeting of the town, the report was read, and the town voted to…
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Tort, against a municipal corporation, for libel. At the trial in the Superior Court, before Braley, J., it op-. peared from the plaintiff’s evidence that the alleged libel was contained in the report of an investigating committee appointed by the defendant town, with which a firm of which the plaintiff was a member had a contract for the construction of a system of waterworks ; that, at a regularly called meeting of the town, the report was read, and the town voted to accept and adopt it, and to have it printed and circulated; that, after the adjournment of the meeting, the town clerk, who…
1Opinion of the CourtMorton, J.
It is possible that this case might be disposed of on the ground that there was no publication by the town of the alleged libel, or that what was done was privileged. But as we are of opinion that the defendant is not liable on the main question, we have not considered the questions of publication and privilege.
Towns are instituted, in this State and in New England generally, for political purposes. They are created for convenience in the administration of the government. Stone v. Charlestown, 114 Mass. 214, 223. Coolidge v. Brookline, 114 Mass. 592, 596. Agawam v. Hampden, 130 Mass. 528,…
2Cases cited5 opinions
- Hill v. City of BostonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1877
- Tindley v. City of SalemMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1884
- Stone v. City of CharlestownMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1873
- Inhabitants of Agawam v. County of HampdenMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1881
- Coolidge v. Inhabitants of BrooklineMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1874
3Cited by5 opinions
- Bolster v. City of LawrenceMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1917
- City of Dallas v. Moreau, Texas Court of Appeals, 13th District1986
- Conner v. Standard Publishing Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1903
- Stanley v. Inhabitants of TownSupreme Judicial Court of Maine · 1920
- Sampson v. City of BostonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1894