Legal Opinion
Vern Sims Ford, Inc. v. Hagel
Court of Appeals of Washington
Decided January 27, 1986No. 13039-1-IPublishedCited by 25 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtSwanson, J.
—Fred Hagel appeals the Superior Court judgment awarding damages for defamation to Vern Sims Ford, Inc., Bobby Martin, and Daniel F. Sims. Hagel claims that the damages award was error since his alleged defamatory statements were substantially true, were reasonably believed by him to be true, and were constitutionally protected opinions, and no proof of actual damages was shown.
In 1978 Daniel Sims was the manager of, and Martin was a salesman for, Vern Sims Ford, Inc., an automobile dealership in Skagit County, Washington. Hagel, a California resident, knew Martin through Hagel's son. In…
2Cases cited22 opinions
- New York Times Co. v. SullivanSupreme Court of the United States · 1964
- Connick Ex Rel. Parish of Orleans v. MyersSupreme Court of the United States · 1983
- Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1974
- Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. v. Greenmoss Builders, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1985
- Hutchinson v. ProxmireSupreme Court of the United States · 1979
17 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by25 opinions
- Story v. Shelter Bay CompanyCourt of Appeals of Washington · 1988
- Demopolis v. Peoples National BankCourt of Appeals of Washington · 1990
- Schmalenberg v. Tacoma News, Inc.Court of Appeals of Washington · 1997
- Harvey v. ChristopherSupreme Court of The Virgin Islands · 2011
- Grange Insurance v. RobertsCourt of Appeals of Washington · 2013
20 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.