Fennell v. G.A.C. Finance Corp. of Baltimore No. 3

In this libel suit the verdict of the jury was in favor of the appellant (Fennell) against the appellee (GAC). The damages came to $40,000, $35,000 of. which was styled “punitive,” the balance “compensatory.” Four months later (5 March 1965) the trial judge granted GAC’s motion for a judgment N.O.V. Fennell appealed. While there are a number of subsidiary mat ters to be considered we shall be concerned principally with Judge Byrnes’ reason for granting GAC’s motion. 1 He said that “although * * * [the libelous matter] could well be morally and ethically reprehensible it is not, in this…