Legal Opinion
Great Coastal Express, Inc. v. Ellington
Supreme Court of Virginia
Decided September 6, 1985No. Record 822256PublishedCited by 97 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtRussell, J.
This is an appeal from a judgment awarding both compensatory and punitive damages for defamatory words to a plaintiff who was neither a public official nor a public figure against a defendant which was unconnected with the news media. The substance of the alleged defamation involved no matters of public concern. We must consider under what circumstances, in such cases, damages may be presumed, privilege may be a defense, and such a privilege may be lost.
Robert Woodrow Ellington was employed as a truck driver by Great Coastal Express, Inc., a trucking concern with offices in Richmond.…
2Cases cited20 opinions
- New York Times Co. v. SullivanSupreme Court of the United States · 1964
- Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1974
- Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union of United States, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1984
- Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. v. Greenmoss Builders, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1985
- Gazette, Inc. v. HarrisSupreme Court of Virginia · 1985
15 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by97 opinions
- Steven J. Hatfill v. The New York Times Company, and Nicholas KristofCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · 2005
- Yeagle v. Collegiate TimesSupreme Court of Virginia · 1998
- Crump v. P & C Food Markets, Inc.Supreme Court of Vermont · 1990
- Potomac Valve & Fitting Inc. Raymond C. McGarvey v. Crawford Fitting Company Dibert Valve & Fitting Company, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · 1987
- Dwyer v. SmithCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · 1989
92 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.