Mercado v. Hoefler

This is an appeal by defendants Harry and Ray Hoefler from a judgment in an action for slander awarding plaintiff John F. Mercado $17,500 as compensatory damages.

The record discloses that appellant Harry Hoefler was the operator of six real estate offices in Northern California. The appellant Ray Hoefler managed the San Jose office where respondent was employed as a real estate salesman. Prior to October of 1952 and during his employment, respondent handled three different deals for a Mr. Yoshihara, a Nisei, all of which fell through, including a prospective sale of a home owned by a Mr.…