Robinson v. Coulter
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Tort for an alleged libel. Writ dated March 24, 1911. The plaintiff’s declaration, as amended, was as follows: And the plaintiff says that on March 22, 1911, and for many years prior thereto, he was a contractor and builder carrying on his business in the town of Clinton in said County of Worcester, and in the towns in the vicinity of said Clinton; that he depended upon the income and profit of said business for his livelihood and enjoyed a good name and reputation for…
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Tort for an alleged libel. Writ dated March 24, 1911. The plaintiff’s declaration, as amended, was as follows: And the plaintiff says that on March 22, 1911, and for many years prior thereto, he was a contractor and builder carrying on his business in the town of Clinton in said County of Worcester, and in the towns in the vicinity of said Clinton; that he depended upon the income and profit of said business for his livelihood and enjoyed a good name and reputation for honesty and fair dealing in said business; that in March, 1910, the plaintiff, as a contractor and builder, entered into an…
1Opinion of the CourtDe Courcy, J.
A defamatory written statement which imputes to a contractor dishonesty or fraud in his business will in itself support an action for libel. Newell, Slander & Libel, (2d ed.) 195. Lovejoy v. Whitcomb, 174 Mass. 586. If the language of the newspaper article in question, taking the words in their natural sense, fairly may bear the meaning that the plaintiff dishonestly failed to comply with his contract to erect a school building, the demurrer must be overruled. “ It is only when the court can say that the publication is not reasonably capable of any defamatory meaning, and cannot reasonably be…
2Cases cited9 opinions
- Burt v. Advertiser Newspaper Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1891
- Morasse v. BrochuMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1890
- Twombly v. MonroeMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1884
- Hanson v. Globe Newspaper Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1893
- Haynes v. Clinton Printing Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1897
4 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by25 opinions
- Sharratt v. Housing Innovations, Inc.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1974
- Ingalls v. Hastings & Sons Publishing Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1939
- Muchnick v. Post Publishing Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1955
- Finnish Temperance Society Sovittaja v. Finnish Socialistic Publishing Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1921
- Lyman v. New England Newspaper Publishing Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1934
20 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.