Laurent v. Van Somple
Wisconsin Supreme Court
Appeal from a judgment of tbe circuit court for Oconto county: W. B. QuikxaN, Circuit Judge. This is a slander action. A demurrer ore tenus to the complaint was sustained and the plaintiff appeals.
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Appeal from a judgment of tbe circuit court for Oconto county: W. B. QuikxaN, Circuit Judge. This is a slander action. A demurrer ore tenus to the complaint was sustained and the plaintiff appeals. The complaint charges in substance that the plaintiff is a blacksmith and wagonmaker in business as such at Lena, Oconto county, Wisconsin; that defendant is a priest and the pastor of the Catholic church at Lena; that in January and February, 1913, the plaintiff was a trustee of said church and secretary of the board of trustees having charge of the collection of the accounts of the parish; that…
1Opinion of the CourtWinslow, C. J.
It is held in this case that the judgment was right because (1) the words alleged do not in their natural and ordinary meaning charge a criminal offense but merely slovenly or imperfect bookkeeping; (2) if it be held that they are defamatory in their nature and hence slanderous because special damage is alleged (Servatius v. Pichel, 34 Wis. 292), the answer is that loss of customers by a blacksmith cannot be held to be the natural or proximate result of a charge of bad bookkeeping.
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Servatius v. PichelWisconsin Supreme Court · 1874
3Cited by2 opinions
- Dillard v. ShattuckNew Mexico Supreme Court · 1932
- Fitzgerald v. PietteWisconsin Supreme Court · 1923