Peterson v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
Supreme Court of Minnesota
Action for libel in the district court for Brown county. The case-was tried before Webber, J., and a jury, wbicb rendered a verdict in favor of plaintiff for $2,000. From an order denying a motion for a new trial, defendant appealed. The submission of the question of punitive damages was error. The infliction of such damages in this jurisdiction rests on the theory that they are for punishment and example. Hoffman^ v. Northern Pac.
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Action for libel in the district court for Brown county. The case-was tried before Webber, J., and a jury, wbicb rendered a verdict in favor of plaintiff for $2,000. From an order denying a motion for a new trial, defendant appealed. The submission of the question of punitive damages was error. The infliction of such damages in this jurisdiction rests on the theory that they are for punishment and example. Hoffman^ v. Northern Pac. B. Co., 45 Minn. 53; North v. Johnson, 58 Minn. 242. A corporation is not liable in punitive damages for wantonness or oppression on the part of its servant, not…
1Opinion of the CourtBuck, J.
Action for libel. Verdict for plaintiff for $2,000 damages, motion for new trial on part of defendant, which was denied, and it appeals. The plaintiff was a state senator, whose home was at New Ulm, but, *371the senate being in session, and while the plaintiff was attending the same at St. Paul, the defendant, through its station agent P. R. McHale, at New Ulm, sent to the plaintiff the following telegraphic message:
“S. D. Peterson, care Windsor:
Slippery Sam: Your name is pants.
Many Republicans.”
This case has been before us on two former occasions. 65 Minn. 18, 67 N. W. 646, and 72 Minn. 41, 74…
2Cases cited5 opinions
- Goddard v. Grand Trunk RailwaySupreme Judicial Court of Maine · 1869
- Bergmann v. . JonesNew York Court of Appeals · 1883
- Peterson v. Western Union Telegraph Co.Supreme Court of Minnesota · 1896
- Peterson v. Western Union Telegraph Co.Supreme Court of Minnesota · 1898
- Fredrickson v. JohnsonSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1895
3Cited by16 opinions
- City of Minneapolis v. RichardsonSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1976
- Friedell v. Blakely Printing Co.Supreme Court of Minnesota · 1925
- Pennsylvania Iron Works Co. v. Vogt Machine Co.Court of Appeals of Kentucky · 1906
- Anderson v. International Harvester Co. of AmericaSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1908
- Hammer v. FordeSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1914
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