Hofmann Co. v. E. I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co.

Opinion

KLINE, P. J.

In statements that appeared in a front-page story in the San Francisco Chronicle and elsewhere, employees of a toxic chemical plant criticized a housing development proposed to be constructed next to the plant. The questions before us are whether the employees’ comments included false statements of fact actionable as trade libel and, if not, whether, consistent with the First Amendment, the statements may nonetheless provide the basis for a cause of action for intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.

Statement of the Case

Appellant, the Hofmann Company,…