Pierce v. Inter-Ocean Casualty Co.

(dissenting) : Action for libel. The basis of the action is a letter written by an agent of the defendant company to the law firm of Pierce & Lester, of which the plaintiff was a member, a copy of which was mailed to the insurance commissioner of the State. It is alleged that the letter contained libelous, defamatory, false, and malicious matter, and was meant to charge the plaintiff, a practicing attorney in the City of Columbia, with unprofessional and unethical conduct.

The defendant admitted the writing and mailing of the letter, but denied any intention to reflect upon the plaintiff. The…