American Stores Co. v. Byrd

This appeal is from a judgment for $25,000 entered by the Circuit Court for Somerset County in favor of Helen Cox Byrd (plaintiff or customer) against the American Stores Company (defendant) on the verdict of a jury in an action for slander.

On the afternoon of October 4, 1960, the customer entered the store of the defendant in Princess Anne accompanied by her twin daughters, tier son remained in the parked automobile. She purchased a gallon of milk and two cans of baked beans and paid for them. While she was waiting for her change and packaging of the purchases, the store manager (Ralph W.…