Slawik v. News-Journal Co.

Plaintiff appeals Superior Court’s grant of defendant-appellee Gannett Company, Inc.’s motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff’s action for defamation or libel.

The alleged libel was contained in a September 1979 News-Journal paper editorial titled, “A Career Is Blighted.” The editorial concerned another individual, Wendell Howell, a public official who had recently pled guilty to a charge of official misconduct while serving as Director of the Wilmington Housing Authority. The thrust of the editorial was that Howell had thereby abused his office and therefore should resign. Noting that…