Dunlap v. Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc.

SPAETH, Judge:

This action for defamation was brought by appellee, a sergeant in the Philadelphia Police Department, against appellant, publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer. It is based on an article in the Inquirer concerning police corruption. The jury awarded appellee both compensatory and punitive damages. Appellant’s motion for judgment n. o. v. or new trial was denied. We have concluded that judgment n. o. v. should have been entered because appellee failed to prove that appellant published the article with “actual malice” or “reckless disregard of the truth,” as required by New *478York…