Ellsworth v. Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Inc.

This is an action for libel. Upon a former appeal (66 N. D. 578, 268 N. W. 400) involving a demurrer to the complaint, we held that the matter alleged to be defamatory did not constitute libel per se, but that the complaint did allege a libel per quod, and suffiicently set forth facts constituting a defamatory publication. We further held that general damages do not result as a matter of course from the publication of defamatory matter that is not libelous per se and that the complaint was demurrable for failure to allege special damages. We also held that the complaint was demurrable for…